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Students are being urged to be wary of scams, with research showing that more than half have encountered criminals or had their money stolen in the past year.
The Home Office has worked together natwest To issue a warning as part of the Stop! Think fraud campaign.
Research conducted by Savanta among more than 5,000 UK undergraduate students in April and May for NatWest’s Student Living Index found that 57% had encountered criminals or had their money stolen in the past year.
Last year the average amount stolen from people aged 18 to 24 was £300.
student in kent are most affected by scams, with the average victim having £436 stolen, followed by lincolnshire Research indicates that at £355 and Greater London at £350.
Criminals may claim to be from banks or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or offer fraudulent investments. People should also be wary of letting someone use their bank account to transfer money, as they could be helping criminals transfer cash. This is called money laundering and is illegal, students are often targeted with promises of quick opportunities to make some cash.
fraud minister god hanson Said: “I urge students to remain vigilant; anyone can fall victim to this. A little vigilance now can save you from a financial nightmare. For help and advice, search Stop! Think About Fraud.”
Nick Perkins, director of fraud prevention at NatWest, said: “Our advice to students is to think for a moment before acting on any request: does it seem rash or too good to be true?
“Pause before spending your hard-earned money. If you’re unsure, talk to someone you trust. And if you think you’ve been scammed, please don’t be embarrassed – criminals are highly skilled at fraud. What’s most important is to report it to your bank and access the help available to you.”
Mark Tierney, chief executive of Stop Scams UK, said: “At Stop Scams UK, we believe the biggest wins will come from stopping scammers from reaching students. That’s why we work with our 37 members – including NatWest – across banking, payments, technology and telecoms to close the routes that fraudsters use to target the public.
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“But scammers are clever, and until we can stop them altogether, our advice to students is simple: If something seems rushed, too good to be true, or not quite right — stop, investigate, and don’t engage.”
national union of students President, Amira Campbell, said: “The Wait! 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 accommodation and banking systems work.”
to stop! Think Fraud is a UK Government campaign to help protect people from scams, led by the Home Office and supported by law enforcement, banking, tech, retail and the charity sector.
Meanwhile, a survey by Barclays indicates that 48% of 18 to 24-year-olds have been the target of a job scam or know someone who has.
Job scammers often promise high salaries and demand advance payment for “training” or “equipment”, steal personal details or trick people into laundering money.
Kirsty Adams, 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 the time to check before responding.”
Barclays’ consumer research was conducted by Opinium in September, involving a general population survey of 2,000 people across the UK and an additional survey of 500 young Gen-Z adults.