The number of scams targeting students has risen in recent years, but there are ways to protect yourself from fraudsters.
Be wary of people offering to pay fees on your behalf, often at reduced rates or under special conditions.
Studying at university is an investment, especially for international students. It’s understandable to be tempted by offers of discounts, but these are likely to be a fake, and you could lose your money.
Remember, you should only pay your university fees directly to Bath Spa University. For details on how to do this, visit How to Pay. If you make a payment in any other way, you could lose your money.
Always report anything suspicious to the University. Email income@bathspa.ac.uk for advice if you're unsure.
Remember: making payments in any other way than the University’s recommended payment methods may result in a loss of funds.
Types of scams
Scams can affect students from all over the world. For example, a scammer might falsely use a university’s name and ask you to 'validate your account' or provide personal, security or banking details.
Scammers may reach out to international students to tell them they have a way to reduce the cost of university tuition fees.
The person approaching you might be another student (at Bath Spa or elsewhere) or could be a friend or family acquaintance. Offers like these are usually part of a card scam.
The scammer will offer to arrange a discount for you, by paying the university on your behalf. They may ask you to pay someone else, or use a website which could look genuine but is not.
Everything may seem legitimate at first. The person may make the payment as agreed, but will often do so using a stolen card. The payment will then later be declined or declared invalid.
The result is that you've lost your money and unknowingly become involved in illegal activity – and your tuition fees will still be payable.
In recent years, fake emails pretending to be from the Student Loans Company (SLC) and other student finance organisations have been sent to students at UK universities.
These emails falsely notify students that their account has been suspended due to incomplete information. They often contain a link to a fake website to gain personal details. Don't click on the links within these emails.
Our team will never ask for your login, password, bank details or personal information by email.
Around the three loan payment dates in September, January and April, fraudsters may target students to trick them into disclosing personal information to access their online accounts and steal their money.
We never email you a link to pay your fees. All students are advised to pay online on our payments page directly or by international bank transfer using Flywire.
Fraud and money mules
University students are increasingly becoming targets for money mule schemes, a form of financial fraud that can have severe outcomes.
What is a money mule?
A money mule is someone who transfers illegally acquired money on behalf of others, often unknowingly taking part in money laundering schemes. They act as a middle person, moving funds between accounts to hide the money's origin and make it harder for authorities to trace.
University students are attractive targets for several reasons:
Financial need: Many students struggle with living expenses and tuition costs, making them vulnerable to offers of easy money
Naivety: Less experienced in financial matters, students may not recognise the signs of a scam
Access to bank accounts: Students typically have bank accounts that can be used for transactions
International connections: International students may be asked to transfer money across borders, which is particularly useful for criminals.
Recruitment: Scammers approach students through social media, email, or even in person with job offers or business opportunities
Convincing story: They present a seemingly lawful reason for needing help transferring money
Account details: The student is asked to provide their bank account information
Money transfer: Funds are deposited into the student's account, and they're instructed to transfer it elsewhere, often keeping a small percentage as payment
Consequences: The student unknowingly becomes part of a money laundering operation, risking legal and financial repercussions.
Job offers that seem too good to be true
Requests to use your personal bank account
Pressure to act quickly or keep the arrangement secret
Poor grammar and spelling in communications
Requests to transfer money to unfamiliar individuals or companies
Requests to hold funds on a short-term basis.
Criminal charges and potential imprisonment
Damaged credit score and financial record
Difficulty opening bank accounts, phone contracts or obtaining loans in the future
Compromised personal and financial information
Student loan declined
Potential expulsion from university.
Be doubtful of uninvited job offers, especially those involving money transfers
Research any company or individuals offering you work
Never share your bank account details with strangers
Never share your University login with anyone else
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is
Stop all communication with the suspected scammers immediately
Contact your bank and explain the situation
Report the incident to local law enforcement and your university's finance department
Seek legal advice if necessary
How to spot fraud
There are many different scams. Be suspicious of the following:
The offer sounds too good to be true
You’re asked to pay someone other than Bath Spa University
The email asks for your bank or login details
You're asked to send money in advance
The email address seems unusual
The email contains bad spelling and grammar
You're asked to do something urgently to make you panic and act quickly.
How to protect yourself
If in doubt, contact the University for advice or visit Action Fraud for further guidance
Never respond to any offers made online
Be wary of approaches made on WeChat, Facebook, Instagram or any other method
Never pay tuition fees through third parties. Only pay tuition fees directly to the University using the authorised payment methods on our How to Pay page
If you’re contacted by suspicious individuals or receive emails that you’re not sure about, please report them to us via income@bathspa.ac.uk.
If you have any queries about tuition fees or funding and you can’t find the information you need on our website, please email us via fees@bathspa.ac.uk.