Students warned over scam emails

STUDENTS in Lancashire are being told to be on their guard after reports of a

'scam' email falsely claiming to be from Student Finance England, the online

service for the Student Loans Company.

Lancashire Trading Standards are

warning students not to respond to the rogue email which asks them to provide

personal information. The email tells students that if they don't confirm their

bank details, they will not receive payment.

Lancashire's Head of

Trading Standards, Paul Noone explained this has not come from Student Finance

England and is a scam: "Reputable companies and government agencies will not

email you out of the blue demanding access to your personal details.”

The fraudulent email which is targeting students throughout the UK has

the subject title 'Urgent Verify Payment Details' and goes on to ask for

information including account number/roll number and sort code. It then asks for

this information to be verified by clicking on the link'

https://www.direct.gov.uk/sfe/pls/verfiy/confirm/

Although the link

appears genuine, running the curser over it reveals an alternative hidden

address.

Mr Noone continued: "Specific on line security advice including

information relating to this scam can be found at the genuine webpage of Student

Finance England by visiting www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk

"These

conmen are very devious and it is easy to be taken in by their patter. Anyone

receiving suspicious emails of this kind should delete them immediately without

even opening them.

"Scams are not limited to emails - they come in a

variety of forms including telephone, postal mail, text message and even on the

doorstep. If in any doubt do not respond."

Anyone who thinks they may

have been a victim of a scam or wishes to report one, should contact consumer

direct on 08454 040506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Student

Finance England is a service allowing full-time higher education students from

England to apply for finance online. Equivalent organizations cover Scotland,

Wales and Northern Ireland for those students based outside of England.

Information relating to all student finance matters can be found on the

Education and Learning section of the Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk