29 Apr 2019
Rise in international students targeted in visa fee scam – here’s what to watch out for
Thousands of students apply every year to study in the United Kingdom. At Loughborough University, over 3,100 of our students are international.
Unfortunately, there has been an increase in the number that have fallen victim to calls from people pretending to be Home Office officials.
In many cases, students are told that they are at risk of deportation or that their visa is being cancelled. This is a scare tactic that pressurises the victims. Demands for money are then made, including in the form of cryptocurrency, gift cards and iTunes vouchers.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and Action Fraud have compiled some tips to help students spot when they might be at risk:
- Legitimate calls from Home Office officials will never ask you to pay over the phone
- You will never be asked to pay in cryptocurrency, gift cards or via money transfer services
- Home Office officials will never pressure you to make payments immediately or threaten deportation or cancellation of visas
- Be aware that fraudsters may give you a fake name or call back number to appear more legitimate
- Always question calls like this. If you are worried about the status of your visa, contact International Student Advice and Support at the University or UKVI on 0300 123 224
If you believe you are the victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and contact International Student Advice and Support:
Loughborough Campus T: 01509 222765 E: advice@lboro.ac.uk
Loughborough London T: 0203 805 1348 E:advice@lboro.ac.uk