International students are sometimes targeted by fraudsters who, by claiming to be from a legitimate organisation, demand money or to know personal information.
If you are not sure of who is contacting you, whether this might be over the phone, by email or on social media, do not share your information or make payments.
If you think you have been targeted by fraudsters, you should report it as soon as possible.
Criminals might contact you in different ways. Common examples include:
- By phone
- Via SMS/text messages
- Via Whatsapp
- By email
Their contact details might be very similar to the official contact details of the agency or organisation they pretend to contact you from. Sometimes, the number calling will be the same as the official phone number for that institution (the number has been cloned).
They will try to appear very genuine, they might know some of your personal details and might try to make you feel pressured about making a payment by a deadline or to provide your personal information.
International students are often targeted by fraudsters saying that there is a problem with their student visa or immigration status. Criminals might threaten that there will be dramatic consequences in case you do not act immediately, such as your visa being cancelled, imprisonment or fines.
We are aware that fraudsters commonly pretend to be from the Home Office or UKVI, HMRC, Banks, the Ministry of Justice or other government UK departments.
Action Fraud’s website has an A-Z list of the different frauds, which explains the most common scams and how to prevent them.
If you are contacted in any way and you are suspicious, if you are not sure about the source of the contact and you feel intimidated, please do not share your personal information (neither confirm that any of the information they know about you is correct). Do not make any payments.
If you are unsure, you could contact the organisations directly by using their official channels to check that the person who contacted you is legitimate.
Contact the ISAT Team for support.
If you have been targeted by fraudsters or if you have been a victim of a scam or fraud, please report it to Action Fraud and to the Police.
We advise you to look at information on scams and frauds on the following official organisations’ websites:
- UKVI’s guidance on scams and fraud
- Examples of HMRC related phishing emails, suspicious phone calls and texts
- Examples of bank scams (Financial Conduct Authority)
- UKCISA’s information on scams
If you have a bank account in the UK, we would advise you to read the information they have on their website about scams/fraud.
There have been a number of frauds involving Chinese students who have been targeted by fraudsters saying that they can save money on their tuition fees by paying the university on the student’s behalf for a lesser amount. The flyers below give further information about these scams:
It is important to think about your personal safety and how to protect your belongings during your studies in the UK.
The following organisations give advice to students on how to stay safe in the UK:
- The Security Services at Brookes offers advice to students on personal safety, accommodation security, protecting your belongings etc. You can also find further information in our Getting Started Guide.
- Tips and guidance about online security can be found on the Brookes IT webpages.
- The British Council offers practical guidance on safety and security for international students living away from home in an unfamiliar environment.
If you are on or around campus and need immediate assistance, contact Oxford Brookes Security Services via its new number of 01865 60 3060.
You can also check the emergency support webpage.