The Home Office has teamed up with NatWest to issue the warning as part of the Stop! Think Fraud campaign as students are targeted by scammers and losing up to £436
Students are being warned to be vigilant against scams, with research indicating that over half have been targeted or had money stolen by fraudsters in the past year. The Home Office has joined forces with NatWest to issue this warning as part of the Stop! Think Fraud campaign.
According to NatWest’s student living index, a study conducted by Savanta in April and May among more than 5,000 UK undergraduates, it was found that 57% had encountered criminals or had money stolen in the past year. On average, individuals aged between 18 to 24 had £300 stolen from them in the past year.
Kent students were found to be the most affected by scams, with the average victim losing £436, followed by Lincolnshire at £355 and Greater London at £350, according to the research.
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Fraudsters may pretend to be from banks or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or offer fake investments. Individuals should also be cautious about allowing someone to use their bank account to transfer money, as they could be aiding criminals in moving cash.
This practice, known as money muling, is illegal and students are often targeted with promises of quick opportunities to make some cash. Fraud Minister Lord Hanson urged: “I urge students to stay alert; anyone can be a victim. A little vigilance now could save you from a financial nightmare. For help and advice, search Stop! Think Fraud.”
Nick Perkins, director of fraud prevention at NatWest, advised: “Our advice to students before acting on any request is to take a moment to think: does it feel rushed or too good to be true? Pause before spending your hard-earned money. If you’re unsure, speak to someone you trust. And if you believe you’ve been scammed, please don’t feel ashamed – criminals are highly skilled at deception. What matters most is reporting it to your bank and accessing the support available to you.”
Mark Tierney, chief executive of Stop Scams UK, stated: “At Stop Scams UK, we believe the biggest win will come from preventing scammers from reaching students in the first place. That’s why we work with our 37 members – including NatWest – across banking, payments, tech and telecoms to shut down the routes fraudsters use to target the public.”
He explained: “But scammers are wily, and until we can stop them entirely, our advice to students is simple: if something feels rushed, too good to be true, or just not quite right – pause, check and don’t engage.”
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Amira Campbell, National Union of Students president, commented: “The Stop! Think Fraud initiative is really important. Fraudsters often target students who are living independently for the first time International students are also disproportionately targeted, with fraudsters taking advantage of the fact that they have moved to a new country and don’t know how all our housing and banking systems work.”
Stop! Think Fraud is the UK Government’s campaign to help people protect themselves from scams, led by the Home Office and supported by law enforcement, banking, tech, retail and the charity sector. Meanwhile, a survey commissioned by Barclays revealed that 48% of 18 to 24 year olds have fallen victim to employment fraud or are acquainted with someone who has.
Employment fraudsters frequently pledge substantial wages whilst demanding advance payments for “training” or “equipment”, pilfering personal information or duping victims into money laundering schemes.
Kirsty Adams, a fraud and scams expert at Barclays, said: “Students are facing real financial pressure, and criminals exploit that anxiety with offers that look professional and promise quick cash. If you’re asked to pay upfront, share personal details, or the job sounds too good to be true, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Always take time to check before you respond.”
Barclays’ consumer research was conducted in September by Opinium, encompassing a general population survey of 2,000 people across the UK and an additional survey of 500 young Gen-Z adults.
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