Student loan scams target students
Every September, thousands of students at St Andrews – and almost one million across the UK – receive their maintenance payments from the Student Loans Company (SLC). While this is a busy and exciting time, it’s also a period when scammers step up their efforts to steal money and personal information from students.
Right now, the most common types of fraud targeting students are text-message (SMS) scams (“smishing”), fake emails (“phishing”) and fraudulent phone calls (“vishing”). These scams often impersonate SLC or other trusted organisations.
Things to look out for
Scammer language
Poor spelling, bad grammar or generic greetings like “Dear Student” can be a giveaway.
A sense of urgency
Be cautious of urgency. Messages claiming your account will be closed or payments stopped unless you act immediately are almost always scams.
Links within the text messages
Think before you click. Don’t click on links in suspicious emails or texts. Go directly to the official website or log into your official account instead.
How to stay safe online
Be mindful of your digital footprint
Keep personal info private. Be mindful of what you share online, as fraudsters use social media to collect details for identity theft.
Verify before taking any action
If you’re unsure about a message, call or email the organisation using their official contact details – not the ones in the suspicious message.
Report suspicious emails, calls and texts
If you receive an email, text or call that you suspect is a scam, do not click on any links or provide any personal details. Instead:
- Report phishing emails to [email protected] so our IT Security team can investigate.
- Forward scam texts to 7726 (a free reporting service run by UK mobile providers).
- Report serious cases to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre at [email protected].
Key things to remember
SLC will never ask you to provide personal or financial details by email or text.
Neither SLC nor Student Finance England will contact you via WhatsApp or initiate contact over social media.
If you’re unsure, log into your SLC online account directly to verify the message.
By staying vigilant, thinking before you click, and reporting suspicious messages, you’ll help protect yourself and others from falling victim to scams.