The University has been made aware of scams and frauds affecting students in Glasgow.

Please be aware, and be particularly careful about:

Housing

Please make sure when looking for accommodation that you are dealing with the owner or the agent authorised to rent the accommodation. Don’t pay up front for accommodation you have not seen (ask a trusted friend or relative to visit if you can’t). Avoid making transfers of funds by cash transfer services. Bank transfers, especially between two UK bank accounts, are preferable, and easier to trace if there's a problem.

The Strath Union Advice Hub is always happy to look over house adverts or emails and advise you.

Police Scotland have produced guidance on rental scams.

Social media scams

Please be wary of friend requests from people you don’t know, especially if there is follow up messaging asking for personal information or photos. Don’t share personal information or images online.

Currency exchange (International students)

People may approach you to offer special rates for currency exchange. We are aware of scams that offers students a very good rate to change currency, but are designed to take your money. DO NOT trust people who approach you in person offering to change currency for you.

Students should always use a reputable company or bank for currency exchange. Any company or bank that offers currency exchange services must be registered with or authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check that a company is on the FCA register.

Phone calls from the ‘Home Office’ (international students)

Fraudsters have targeted international students claiming to be the Home Office or British High Commission/Embassy in their country. Typically they will phone the student and tell them that there has been a problem with their visa application and another fee needs to be paid. These fraudsters can be very persistent and may use software to mimic official phone numbers.

The Home Office will never call you to ask you for payment in relation to a visa application.

If you receive a call like this, please simply close the call and block the number. Then report this to the International Student Support Team and also report it to Action Fraud.

(European students may receive a call from the Home Office if they have applied under the Settlement Scheme, but this will be to confirm the application, NOT to request payment).

Chinese students

We have been made aware of a scam/fraud targeting Chinese students. The fraudsters are based in China.

The fraudsters claim to be from the Chinese Police or Chinese Embassy and are investigating money laundering or fraud. They convince students to either:

• transfer large sums of money to them
• transfer money to their own Chinese account and share the bank details with the fraudsters
• log on to a fake website to provide personal and banking details.

 Do not give them any money or your bank details.

If you receive such a call:

• hang up the call immediately and block the number
• Report the call to the University Security Office at the Livingstone Tower on Richmond Street (tel 0141 548 3333; security-control@strath.ac.uk  ) or to the International Student Support Team, ground floor, McCance Building (tel 0141 548 4723; infoandadvice@strath.ac.uk)
• telephone the Police on 101 giving as much detail as possible