The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has reported that a telephone fraud is targeting international students:
Typically, a student will receive a call from someone who says they work for the UK Border Agency (UKBA). The caller may appear genuine, and they may have some limited information about the student, for example their passport number.
The caller may say that there is a problem with the student’s pending immigration application or with their current visa, and they may ask for debit or credit card details to pay a fine immediately or pay through Western Union, which they will say is to prevent further action or investigation by the UKBA.
UKBA would never approach an applicant or migrant in this way, nor does UKBA have any system of fines or penalties.
If one of your students receives such a call, UKBA’s advice is as follows:
- Do not give the caller any personal information, and do not confirm that any information they have is correct. Do not make any payment over the phone.
- Ask the caller for their name, job title and number, and say you will ring them back. But do not ring them back.
- Report the call to the University international student advisers, who can report the fraud to the police and to the UKBA if the student wishes.
- If they wish, the students can report the matter to the police or to the UKBA themselves.
For more information please go to www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/index.php.
You can find contact details for the UK Border Agency at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.
