Some of our students have been called by people who say they are calling from the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), or sometimes they say that they are working for the Police. Some callers also claim that they are working for a bank. These people are very clever and very convincing but they are not genuine!! They are thieves and criminals. They are very persuasive.

They may already have been able to get some details about you from computer systems that they have hacked into and this makes it seem even more real. Please, please be assured that the Police, your Bank and the UKBA would not call you and ask you for money. They would not ask you to give your personal details or your bank account details over the telephone. Do not give these callers any information at all. We understand that it may be frightening and they can sound as they are very important, as they speak with authority – but they are trying to rob you and they are criminals.

If anyone like this calls you – don’t worry, don’t panic - just hang up. End the call.

Don’t engage in any conversation with them. Don’t give them any details at all about you or your passport or your bank account. If anything like this has happened to you – do please let us know, and we can pass the information to the Police.

Message Sent by International Student Advice Service