Students are being warned by Cardiff Trading Standards against a devious student loan scam currently in circulation.
An email claiming to be from the Student Loans Company asks for personal information, including bank account details, in exchange for student loan payments. With a subject heading ‘Urgent Verify Payment Details’, it also asks people to click on a link that looks like it goes to a secure, Directgov page.
In reality, this actually diverts people to another website set up by the people behind the scam who are attempting to steal usernames and passwords.
Phishing scams are common around the three main student loan installment payment dates in January, April and September. Trading Standards are urging students to remain on guard and never to pass their details on to an unknown source.
Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Judith Woodman, said; “Anybody who has applied for a student loan, or has a relative who may have applied for a student loan, should be aware that this scam is going on.”
“We would strongly advise students to remain vigilant, not to respond to any suspicious emails or follow any of their instructions and to call Consumer Direct immediately so that Fair Trading Officers can liaise with the Student Loans Company to investigate the source.”
