Action Fraud warns local students of top scams as the new academic year begins, with 608 fraud reports filed in Suffolk during 2023.
What's new: As Suffolk students return to school, college and university, Action Fraud is highlighting five common fraud types targeting young people across the UK:
Investment fraud cost victims £29.5m nationwide: Criminals target students through social media, luring them with promises of quick returns on cryptocurrency or high-yield schemes.
Online shopping scams resulted in £9.2m in losses: Fraudsters create fake websites or replicate legitimate stores, tricking students into providing personal and financial information for non-existent purchases.
Rental fraud saw £4.3m stolen: Scammers often target students seeking university accommodation, asking for upfront fees without allowing property viewings.
Ticket fraud accounted for £1.1m in losses: Fraudsters exploit high-demand events, selling fake tickets to students looking for deals on freshers' events and other popular gatherings.
Fake job fraud cost victims £150,000: Students searching for work opportunities fall prey to fraudulent job adverts to steal personal information or money through upfront payments for non-existent services.
Why it matters: Almost 69,000 fraud reports were received from young people across the UK in 2023, with total losses of £143.7m. In Suffolk alone, there were 608 reports totaling £842,169 in losses – £1,385 per
What they're saying: "Young people can be a primary target for fraudsters," said Adam Mercer, Deputy Director of Action Fraud. "It's important to look out for these top frauds and for students to protect themselves online, as well as in-person, from different types of fraud."
How to stay safe:
Use strong, unique passwords for online accounts
Be cautious about transferring money, especially under pressure
Verify authenticity before making purchases or paying fees
Report suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
Report suspicious texts or calls to 7726
The bottom line: Students should remain vigilant and report any suspected fraud to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
