Tuition Fee Scams 

Beware of communications and adverts that advise you to pay your tuition fees via third-party services, even if it appears to be an attractive saving. 

Middlesex University has been made aware of fraudulent activity targeting overseas students joining Universities in the UK. Students, parents and Sponsors are being contacted by a third party that offers to pay a student’s fees on their behalf at a discounted rate. This could be tuition fee or accommodation fees. 

This type of scam will ask you to pay your money to another person or you will be directed to a bogus website to make payment. This person will agree to arrange a discount for you by paying on your behalf. This is part of a credit card scam, which sees bogus payments being made on student accounts using stolen credit cards.  

They will make payment as agreed but the payment will be rejected or later clawed back when it becomes apparent that the card has been cloned or stolen. Sometimes they will attempt to make numerous payments of your tuition fees with several different cards to try and avoid detection but this type of activity is monitored by our credit control team who may investigate your account and ask you to explain the payments. The end result is that you will have lost your money and unknowingly become involved in illegal activity.  

Please note that all details regarding tuition fees are on the Middlesex University website and there are no hidden deals: https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/fees-payments-funding 

Be particularly viligent for adverts or messages on social platforms, such as facebook, Instagram or WeChat, and never agree to meet anyone who is asking you to pay for a service in large sums of cash. 

Remember the golden rule: If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. 

Here’s some more advice on avoiding scams: 

• Don’t give your phone number out to people you do not know and be careful when joining Whatsapp groups – this is the easy way for people to get your phone number; 

• Beware of phone calls from numbers you do not recognise, even if they are from your home country; 

• Beware of unsolicited messages and adverts online, particularly on social media channels; 

• Never give any personal details out – including bank details – to someone you do not know, whether over the phone, via email or in person; 

• The account numbers on your bank card can be used to make purchases, even if your bank card is not present at the time of the purchase – never share the numbers printed on your card; 

• Avoid anyone who asks you to pay for a service in cash – especially if it is a large sum and certainly never meet anyone you don’t know to hand over cash; 

• If you receive any messages or phone calls that you suspect to be fraudulent, report them to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the Action Fraud website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ 

If you are the victim of fraud, please contact the finance team: https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/fees-payments-funding