Students urged ‘be web-safe this autumn’

With the start of term imminent, university students are being urged to stay safe and not to reveal their personal bank details online.

Students can be targeted online by fraudsters expert in the art of phishing. Phishing happens when criminals send very convincing emails that appear to come from legitimate organisations. 

The number of students reporting these incidents to the Student Loans Company has significantly increased in the last few years.

The Student Loans Company's top two messages to students are: 

• “We will never ask you to update your bank details by email”
• “We will never ask you to verify your student account details by email” 

Student Loans Company's Fraud Manager, Heather Laing, said: "Students don't receive their student funding until they have registered and attended university but we want students to be aware that these scam emails are in circulation now and they should not respond to these.

"Ignore messages that tell you to 'validate your account' or provide any personal, security or banking details as the Student Loans Company will never ask you to confirm your information in this way.

"Fraudsters could steal your details when you transact online. They do this by tricking you - making you believe you're sending these details to the Student Loans Company.

"In fact, the details could be going straight to the fraudsters instead - even if it looks like you're on our website. To defend your personal details, you need to use antivirus software and a firewall."