A LESSON IN HOW TO GIVE SCAMMERS THE SLIP...

BUSY SOCIAL LIVES AND STACKS OF FINANCIAL ADMIN CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR CRIMINALS TO PREY ON STUDENTS STARTING OUT AT UNIVERSITY Al THIS TIME OF YEAR. VICKY SHAW REPORTS

LEADING a hectic life can make it even more likely that someone will fall victim to a scam - and when students are busy settling in for the new university year, this can be a key time for criminals to strike.

Students may have new bank accounts to arrange, technology to set up and payments and loans to move around - as well as new services or subscriptions to set up if they've just moved into new accommodation.

The various admin tasks could make it more likely that students are expecting to receive some sort of communication about their finances. This, in turn, may make some messages from scammers appear more plausible.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of students have encountered delivery service scams in the past year, according to a 2024 Student Living Index from NatWest, which involved research among more than 6,000 students living in the UK.

One in 11 (9%) students have encountered bank scams in recent months, 6% are concerned about social media account hacking, and 4% have encountered or fallen victim to fake goods being advertised on social media.

One in 20 (5%) have also spotted fake HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) tax rebate scams.

The Students Loans Company (SLC) also recently reminded students to be vigilant around fake text messages.

Scammers will target students over the autumn term as they receive their maintenance loan payments and SLC says it will never ask students to provide or verify their personal or financial information via email or text.

Last year it stopped £2.9m of maintenance loan payments being taken by smishing and phishing scams, where students had acted on bogus communications.