Some Warwick students have fallen victim to financial scams, so we wanted to share some advice to help you avoid this situation.

Rogue law enforcement calls

Fraudsters are contacting overseas students and visitors who are in the UK via their mobile phone or social network account and purporting to represent UK or foreign law enforcement. Fraudsters claim to work with their respective embassy or government, and tell the victim that there is evidence in the form of forged documentation or parcels which implicate them in a crime such as money laundering, fraud or immigration offences.

After demanding further personal details from the victim such as their name, current address and copies of personal documentation, they threaten the victim by suggesting a warrant exists for their arrest which will result in their deportation and imprisonment unless they transfer a payment to them in order to cancel the arrest or pay a fine. Once the money is transferred, all contact between the victim and the fraudster is severed.

Staying safe

Police will never ask you to withdraw to transfer money so 'it can be checked', neither would they demand money in order to cancel an arrest. Do not be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details no matter who they say they are; protect your information and have the confidence to question and refuse unusual requests.

Hoax Home Office calls

Another example of scams have included the targeting of Tier 4 Visa students by somebody purporting to represent the Home Office and fraudulent individuals advertising tuition or accommodation fee payment or investment services.

The British Council’s advice on frauds and scams states: “some criminals specifically target international students, telephoning them and pretending to be from a legitimate organisation (such as the UK Police, Chinese/international police, the UK Home Office). They demand money (calling it a ‘fine’ for a non-existent immigration problem), and claim that if you do not pay them quickly, there will be damaging consequences (for example, deportation or cancelling your visa)”. ( British Council – Creating Confidence 2017-18).

Find out more.

Getting help

Our advice is to never give money in response to such demands and to contact University Security or the International Student Office for advice if you are approached in this way. If you have made a payment to someone claiming to be the police or government department, and you think you might be a victim of fraud, you can report it to Action Fraud any time of the day or night using their online fraud reporting tool. You can also get advice about fraud or cyber-crime by calling 0300 123 2040.