How are foreign students being targeted by scams in the UK?

Fraudsters impersonate school bursars, sending fake emails to parents with altered payment details and sometimes offering discounts for early payments.

What is the average financial loss for families in these UK school fee scams?

The average amount lost to the fraud was £3,200, with some families losing as much as £10,000.

What should parents do if they suspect a school fee scam in the UK?

Parents should verify any unusual or urgent payment requests through official school channels and report suspected fraud to their bank and Action Fraud.

Home / Crime and Justice / UK Schools Lose £10k to Student Fee Scams

UK Schools Lose £10k to Student Fee Scams

1 Feb

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Summary

Foreign students are targeted by fraudsters intercepting school fee payments.
Families have lost up to £10,000 to scams impersonating school bursars.
Schools face cyber-attacks aiming to divert tuition funds to criminals.

UK Schools Lose £10k to Student Fee Scams

Independent schools in the UK are reporting frequent cyber-attacks targeting foreign students' fee payments. Scammers impersonate school bursars, successfully diverting funds into their own accounts. Some families have lost up to £10,000 due to these fraudulent activities.

Research indicates that these attacks occur on average once a year per school. The primary method involves sending fake emails to parents, often offering early payment discounts, and providing false bank details for fee transfers.

Parents of foreign students are particularly vulnerable, as language barriers can make them susceptible to believing fraudulent communications. Scammers meticulously monitor school communications and replicate official payment instructions with high accuracy.