International students should be aware of an active telephone scam which specifically targets them as a group. The Home Office has warned us of this scam.
The number the scammers call from will appear to be a genuine Home Office telephone number (Tel: +44 (0)20 7035 4848). The caller tells students that they have not paid for an immigration service and that because of this, the student needs to pay a fine or will be reported to the Police/Home Office.
The caller directs the student being targeted to the gov.uk website to verify that the number they are calling from is genuine. Please be aware that the caller will be in possession of the student’s full name, postcode in the UK and passport number. They will ask the student they’re calling to verify that the details they have are correct.
Students who have been targeted by this scam have reported that the fraudsters become increasingly insistent and verbally aggressive, resulting in them feeling as though they are forced into making a payment (using iTunes vouchers, for example).
This is NOT a genuine call from the Home Office. The Home Office never contacts students in this manner.
If you receive a call (or an email) requesting money, please contact Action Fraud to report visa and immigration scams.
Details on our Visa & Immigration Student Advice Service can be found here. The team holds drop-in sessions in the Student Services main atrium (Building 37, Highfield Campus) on Tuesdays and Thursdays in term time from 09:00 – 10:30, and on Wednesdays from 13:00 – 14:30.
Further information can be found here.
