Don't fall for fraud: Be scam aware

To avoid scams, you should only ever pay UCL tuition fees directly using our payment portal, Flywire, or using the instructions on the tuition fees page. 

UCL will never contact you asking you to pay your fees using any other method.

UCL will never contact you regarding fees through a non-UCL email address (UCL addresses end in @ucl.ac.uk). You should never attempt to pay fees via an agent, which may be fraudulent, only directly. 

Scams have become a prevalent part of day to day life, from fake delivery notification emails to online shopping fraud.

Opening new bank accounts, applying for student loans, paying your tuition fees, and making international transactions means that students are at heightened risk of scams and may be targeted by scammers.

In recent years, we have seen financial scams becoming more sophisticated and more targeted so it’s important that you stay alert to the different types of scams and know how you can protect yourself and your money.

Spot the signs of a scam

• Are you being asked to send tuition fees using a platform you have not heard of?
• Have you been contacted unexpectedly?
• Have you been asked to send money or to move money to keep it safe?
• Have you been asked for your personal information?
• Does what you‘re told sound too good to be true?
• Are you being pressured into making a decision?
• Have they given you a deadline to send your money that you were not previously aware of?
• Have you been asked to hold money in your bank account on behalf of an organisation?

Quick tips

• You should never give your financial details to someone you don’t know and trust.
• If you are not 100% sure that something is legitimate, contact UCL immediately - we will be happy to support you.
• Do not give out any personal information or make any financial transactions if you are unsure.
• Be cautious of being contacted by individuals pretending to be UCL staff.
• Check sender's email address closely. We will never contact you using a non-UCL email address.

If you think you have been scammed, or you have any doubts and you would like to check before you transfer, email our crime prevention team who will support you: crimeprevention-personalsafety@ucl.ac.uk. 

More information 

Visit our fraud and scams page for more tips on how to stay safe online and avoid scams online or over the phone.

Understand common student scams and how to avoid them including Student Loans Company phishing scams and tuition fee scams.

Learn how to avoid housing scams in your search for student accommodation.

Find out where to report fraud and scams.