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:
Scammers’ 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.
Money mules are recruited, sometimes unwittingly, by criminals to transfer illegally obtained money between different bank accounts. (Action Fraud)
More information about money muling can be found on the National Crime Agency website.
Students are usually contacted by social media or recruited in person and are enticed by ads and profiles claiming they can “get rich quick” or make “easy money”.
They pass over their details and criminal proceeds are transferred electronically. The account holder is directed to send the money on, often into a crypto exchange or account abroad. They keep a small percentage.
Or their debit card “square” is collected and loaded with criminal proceeds. The student is then directed to withdraw the money and hand it over in cash, keeping a small percentage.
Buying luxury goods within the UK on behalf of someone in China.
The items are usually undervalued on packaging to avoid import charges within China and VAT is claimed back within the UK.
Due to restrictions on money leaving China, UK based Daigou operators use underground banking to receive the proceeds of sales.
Criminally derived cash is used to pay the UK based Daigou operator via mule accounts set up in the name of Chinese nationals.
The Daigou operator then pays the same amount to the underground banking agent in China to complete the transaction.
We are aware recent cyber kidnapping scams are targeting Chinese students but anyone can fall victim to a scam.
Cyber kidnapping is where scammers trick a victim into thinking a family member, friend or loved one has been kidnapped. We are aware that students across the globe are being targeted by this type of scam, including in the USA and here in the UK.
Scammers may call you stating that they either have a family member in their possession or will kidnap a family member if you don't do what they say. They might warn you that if you tell anyone about what’s going on, your family member will be at risk and will ask for large amounts of money to ensure their safety. They might provide personal details that are very convincing to cause distress and make you feel like you have to act quickly.
There have also been cases where students have been forced to stage their own kidnapping, by providing images or videos of themselves, so that scammers can extort money from their relatives.
Criminals posing as officials from the Chinese police or embassy are targeting Chinese international students in the UK.
These fraudsters falsely claim that the student or a family member has committed a crime and demand payment of a fee to resolve the case. Victims are often threatened with visa cancellation or legal action against their family members if they fail to comply.
International police do not have jurisdiction in the UK.
Law enforcement agencies from other countries, including China, cannot conduct investigations or make direct contact with individuals in the UK without prior agreement from UK police and Interpol.
If a student receives such a call, they should cease communication immediately and report the incident to British police.
Students should regularly review their social media and online presence to ensure that personal details are not publicly accessible.
Students should obtain their own UK SIM card upon arrival and avoid using any SIM cards provided by third-party ‘agents’ before entering the country.
Do not send money if requested by ‘the police’: The police will never ask students for money or for them to download specific applications on their phones. Students are encouraged to contact ISAT or the British police if they receive any requests.
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:
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:
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.