People unsure if an email they’ve received is a scam HMRC email are advised to forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, where it will be confirmed whether or not it is a legitimate correspondence.
Scam texts can also be forwarded for free to 60599.
Freshers Week ticket scam
Sourcing Freshers Week tickets is typically a high priority for new students, making this another key area scammers hook onto.
Mr Janssen said: “Scammers will try to exploit students by posting fake student or freshers’ events on Instagram or Facebook, with the aim of pocketing your money.
“These events will often imply they are the only ‘official’ event and may include phrases such as ‘Limited availability’ or ‘Final Release’ in the event title, creating a sense of urgency to buy tickets so that you don’t miss out.
“In reality, Freshers’ Week tickets rarely sell out, and some universities will even allow you to buy them throughout your first week of university.”
The best way to ensure the ticket comes from a legitimate site is to visit the university’s official website and click through to the ticket page from there, rather than searching online or clicking through from Facebook or Instagram pages.
Facebook Marketplace scam
As brand-new course textbooks can be expensive, many students tend to opt for second-hand books from Facebook Marketplace or Facebook resale groups. However, this seemingly harmless source to buy books also comes with risk.
