Phishing scams: How you can avoid them

Phishing scams: How you can avoid them

There have been reports of phishing messages being sent by text, so we want to make sure you know how to spot and report them. Keep in mind, we will never ask you to email or text us your bank details.

How to spot a scam

‘Phishing’ is any activity designed to trick you into giving out your personal details such as usernames and passwords – this is normally done by email or text message. Criminals can then use these details to sign in to your online account, steal information and potentially take your money.

Phishing scams can happen at any time and students can be targeted around payment dates at the start of term. Here are some of our top tips to spot them:

1. Phishing emails are often sent in bulk and are unlikely to contain both your first and last name, they commonly start: ‘Dear Student’.
2. Check the quality of the communication - misspelling, poor punctuation and bad grammar are common signs of bogus emails or text messages.
3. Fraudsters will try to create a sense of urgency as a way of pressuring you in to giving your personal details. For example, they’ll say things like ‘failure to respond in 24 hours will result in your account being closed’.

How to avoid these scams

We’ve put together some tips to help you stay safe:

• Keep an eye out for any emails, phone calls or SMS messages you think are suspicious, especially around the time you’re expecting a payment
• You shouldn’t post messages online that let people know you’re getting your student finance payment soon, this could make you a target for fraudsters
• Always ensure that you’re using a secure website when submitting sensitive information online and don’t post personal info on social media pages
• Avoid logging in to your student finance account on public networks or computers
• If you receive a phone call that you’re suspicious about, don’t feel pressured in to giving the requested details. Call us on a number you know is genuine from our Contact page

If you get an email about student finance that you think is a scam you should send it to us at phishing@slc.co.uk. This allows us to close the site down and stop students from being caught out.

If you receive a phone call you think is part of a vishing scam, email us at furtherinfo@slc.co.uk. This will help us protect your account and keep your personal details secure.

Who is the Student Loans Company (SLC)?

SLC oversees student finance on behalf of the government and devolved administrations across the UK. They are the parent organisation of Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW) and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFni).