D2 Abroad Safety Guide

UK Study Abroad Fraud Prevention Alerts (Comprehensive Guide)

Alert: Beware of Luggage Storage Scams in the Study Abroad Community

Chinese National on Dependant Visa Commits Fraud in the UK

Recently, alerts about tracking down a scammer and preventing fraud have circulated in several group chats.

A Chinese man accompanied his girlfriend to the UK for her studies; she held a Student visa, while he had a Dependant visa (which allows legal employment in the UK). Exploiting this right, he posted fraudulent luggage storage ads in various international student groups.

Both the man and his girlfriend are based in London, where she is enrolled at a university. On 22 August 2022, a student entrusted personal belongings to him for storage. The man first lied, claiming he had moved house and could not locate the items, then later denied ever receiving them entirely.

Alert: Verify Website Security Before Logging In

When accessing websites, check if the domain prefix includes https (note the extra "s"). The "s" indicates the site has paid for an SSL certificate issued by a CA (Certificate Authority), meaning it is trusted and relatively secure (HTTPS = SSL + HTTP).

Of course, some official government or corporate websites may not have the "s"—these can still be trusted (we’ve noticed many such sites lack it recently). However, for unknown small or suspicious websites, always confirm the presence of "https". Without it, logging in could expose you to cyberattacks and lead to the theft of sensitive information.

Official Statement from the Service Center for Chinese Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education)

Date: 2 April 2021

Recently, several returned overseas students reported receiving emails purportedly from our center, demanding they update their personal information via the link www.wjx.cn/jq/85828519.aspx within 15 working days. The emails claimed failure to comply would affect their overseas academic qualification certification.

We hereby issue a solemn statement:

• The email address info@uni-hub.cn is not affiliated with our center.

• Our center has never issued such a notice.

All returned overseas students are urged to remain vigilant to avoid personal information leakage, fraud, or financial loss. We reserve the right to pursue legal action against the perpetrators of this false information.

Alert: Protect Your Passport Information and Monitor Unauthorized Flight Bookings

Recently, we came across ads offering high prices to buy passport details—these are operated by flight scalpers who use stolen information to book and resell tickets.

Never share your passport details casually, as they could be exploited to turn you into a "seat-holding puppet" for scalpers’ profit. In some cases, passport information is sold without the owner’s knowledge, leading to unauthorized flight bookings (many victims only discover this if they receive booking notifications; otherwise, it may go unnoticed).

Scalpers book seats using your details: if resold, they profit; if unsold, they cancel for a full refund (with no loss to themselves). However, the unauthorized bookings can negatively impact your travel records.

Solutions:

1. Use the Flightradar24 (or "Hanggou Zongheng" in Chinese) app/mini-program to check for unrecognized bookings. If found, contact the airline immediately to cancel (you will incur no losses).

2. If the unauthorized booking is a flight you were struggling to purchase:

• Request the airline to restrict ticket changes/cancellations to only the account holder, lock the seat, cancel the original payment method, and update to a new one.

• Reschedule the flight to your preferred time and pay with a new card.

• For non-transferable tickets, coordinate with the airline to cancel and rebook for a friend (some students have successfully transferred tickets this way via customer support).

Alert: Guard Against Stolen Social Media Profiles for Fraud

A current student at the University of Manchester recently had their WeChat Moments photos stolen to create a fake account, which was used to impersonate them and defraud others. When exposed in a university group, the real student was shocked—their videos, photos, and even academic transcripts had been copied exactly.

Repeated Warning: Exercise Caution with WeChat Contacts and Groups

Since 2014, scammers (targeting currency exchange, fake diploma services, online romance, exam cheating, flight reselling, tuition payment scams, etc.) have used the following tactics:

1. Impersonation: Scammers pose as police/government officials, new students, seniors/juniors, second-hand buyers/sellers, landlords/tenants, paid baggage couriers (never carry unmarked items for others—they may contain contraband), or tax refund agents. They may even pretend to be family members to gain trust.

• "I’m in [XX major]—can you add me to the group?"

• "I’m a new student at [XX university]—is there a freshers’ group I can join?"

• "We’re in the same major—let’s connect!"

• "I’m also applying for [XX program]."

• Common friend-request messages:

2. Profile Theft and Group Recruitment: After gaining trust, scammers silently steal your Moments content to create fake accounts (some maintain these for years). They may also ask to be added to your groups or send spam ads.

3. Fraud with Fake Accounts: Scammers use cloned profiles for scams like fake 代购 (daigou/shopping agents) or currency exchange fraud.

Key Red Flags for Fake Accounts:

• Attractive profile photos (often stolen) with overly "perfect" or awkwardly curated Moments content.

• Refusal to video call or meet in person.

Case Example (2016):

A student was scammed out of tens of thousands of yuan in an online romance scam—the "girlfriend" used stolen photos and a fake location-spoofing app to appear wealthy and overseas. When the real photo owner discovered the fraud and reported the account, WeChat’s review team rejected the complaint, leaving the victim uncompensated.

Crime Prevention: Cyber and Telecom Fraud in the UK (and Responses)

On 25 May, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) released its 2021 National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime, highlighting cyber and telecom fraud as a major threat in the UK. All Chinese nationals in the UK must remain vigilant.

1. What is Cyber/Telecom Fraud?

• Telecom Fraud: Includes phone/SMS scams using communication tools or internet platforms to send false information and defraud victims of money.

• Cyber Fraud: Involves using the internet to fabricate facts or conceal the truth for financial gain. Both are prevalent in the UK.

2. Common Scam Types in the UK

1. Fake Lottery/Winning Scams: Fraudsters send fake prize notifications via email/messaging apps, tricking victims into paying "taxes" or "fees" to claim non-existent rewards.

2. Impersonation of Official Bodies: Scammers pose as Royal Mail, HMRC, Bank of England, NHS, Chinese police/embassy staff, or international couriers (EMS/DHL). They claim the victim is involved in money laundering or account theft and demand transfers to a "safe account".

3. Phone Scams: Using spoofed numbers (via VOIP or caller-ID software) to trick victims into disclosing personal or financial details.

4. Online Shopping Scams: Posting fake low-price listings on platforms/forums to redirect victims to fraudulent payment sites, then disappearing after receiving money.

5. Fake Bank Notifications: Sending SMS/email alerts about "unauthorized account activity" with malicious links to steal banking credentials.

6. Post-Fraud Recovery Scams: Impersonating lawyers or law enforcement to defraud victims again by offering to recover lost funds for a fee.

3. What to Do If You Suspect or Fall Victim to Fraud

1. Reject calls/SMS mentioning "unpaid bills", "identity theft", "money laundering", "account security", or "safe accounts". Never share personal/banking details without verifying the caller’s identity.

2. Official bodies never request transfers to "safe accounts" or dictate password changes.

3. Protect your devices with up-to-date antivirus software and firewalls; avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. Verify website authenticity before making online payments.

4. Take immediate action:

• Contact your bank to freeze transactions if you have transferred money.

• Confirm the situation with family/friends.

• For UK-based scams: Report to local police and Action Fraud (0300 123 2040; https://www.actionfraud.police.uk). Call 999 for emergencies (text 18000 to 999 for hearing impairments; https://www.emergencysms.net) or 101 for non-emergencies (text 18001 to 101).

• For Chinese telecom scams: Dial +86 96110 or contact your local public security bureau.

• For consular assistance: Call the Chinese Embassy in the UK (+44-20-74368294) or the Education Section (+44-20-76120250; emergency line +44-7410429777 for after-hours issues).

Safety Tip: How to Identify Fraud Calls

Hang up immediately if the caller:

1. Orders you to never end the call and offers to transfer you to another "official".

2. Forbids you from disclosing the conversation to anyone (especially the police).

3. Asks you to move to a private location to continue the call.

4. Claims you have a warrant or arrest notice (easily faked with Photoshop).

5. Sends "legal documents" via email or demands you click unknown links (official documents are never delivered digitally).

6. Insists they are from a legitimate agency (caller IDs can be spoofed with software).

7. Demands you transfer funds to a "safe account" (no such accounts exist for law enforcement).

Alert: Avoid Being Lured into Money Laundering in the UK

The NCA has identified that criminals target UK international students to use their bank accounts for laundering illegal funds (from terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, or tax evasion).

5 Tips to Avoid Becoming a "Money Mule"

1. Never let others use your bank account—it is for your personal use only (e.g., receiving family remittances, part-time wages, paying tuition/expenses).

2. Refuse to transfer/deposit money for others—you may be aiding human traffickers or money launderers.

3. Do not open bank accounts in your name for third parties—this carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence if the account is used for crime.

4. Avoid transferring money from China to the UK via unregulated "underground banks" (illegal in China)—you will be held liable.

5. Do not let others control your account (during or after your stay in the UK)—this could fund terrorism or organized crime.

Consequences of Being a Money Mule

• Expulsion from your university.

• Up to 14 years in prison and a permanent criminal record.

• Bank account closure (making it hard to access student loans, employment, or mobile phone contracts in the UK).

• Endangering your family’s safety.

How to Report Suspicious Activity

Call Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 (100% anonymous, with Chinese translation available on request) if you are targeted for money mule recruitment. If you have already been exploited, contact your bank immediately. For more info: https://moneymules.co.uk/tips/

WeChat Fraud Prevention Alerts

1. Be Cautious with WeChat Work (Enterprise WeChat) and Groups

   Scammers exploit Enterprise WeChat’s perceived "official verification" to build fake accounts/groups. Victims often struggle to report these accounts (complainants frequently receive "report unsuccessful" responses), and chat history is deleted if kicked from groups. Many regular WeChat scammers also evade reporting despite clear evidence of fraud.
2. Limit Strangers in Your Contacts/Groups

   Scammers create fake accounts using stolen profiles of real students/parents/small influencers (often with attractive photos of "rich/elite" individuals). These accounts are sometimes managed by bots that use professional jargon and pre-recorded voice messages to impersonate executives, investors, or alumni. Their goal is to join your real groups or lure you into fake "high-end" groups for further scams.
3. Avoid Unverified WeChat Official Accounts and Linked Private Accounts

   Many low-quality official accounts repost/copy content or use generators to create clickbait articles (focused on finance, real estate, investments, or business courses). They trick users into paying fees or adding "fake mentors" to groups for subsequent fraud.

Alert: Fake Payments When Selling Items

Similar to tuition payment scams, sellers on platforms like eBay may receive fraudulent payments (via stolen credit cards/PayPal accounts). Scammers collect the item in person, and the seller later has the funds reversed—with no way to recover the item (no buyer details for tracking).

Alert: Edinburgh Rental Scams on Facebook Marketplace

Recent rental scams in Edinburgh are often perpetrated by non-UK foreign scammers who list properties at below-market rates. They impersonate landlords with fake passports/ documents (or genuine registration papers) and demand upfront deposits before disappearing.

Alert: Reject Requests to "Transfer Money via Your Bank/WeChat"

A student in the US recently received a message: "I want to send you several thousand RMB to your bank account—can you forward it to my friend via WeChat? My WeChat is restricted." This is a classic scam: the funds are often from stolen cards or reversible transfers, which could implicate you in money laundering (similar to tuition payment fraud).

UK Uber Safety Alert: Malicious Charging Practices

Recent reports highlight three common Uber scams in the UK:

1. Deliberate Delays: Drivers arrive near the pickup location but stop and wait for the passenger to cancel, then charge a penalty fee (usually a few pounds). Contact Uber support for a refund or voucher.

2. False Location Claims: Drivers park far from the pickup point but mark themselves as "arrived" in the app, blaming the passenger for a "wrong location" to inflate waiting fees.

3. Hidden "Pass-Through Fees": While UK tolls are rare (except for £5 airport drop-off fees), some drivers add small, unnoticed charges (e.g., £1) to long trips.

Opt for licensed black cabs (especially at night or for solo long-distance travel) to reduce risks, despite higher costs. Taxis may be harder to hail on the street, so book in advance for reliability.

Alert: Stay Clear of London Underground Tracks

Maintain a safe distance from platform edges (many lack barriers) to avoid falls, collisions, or being pushed onto tracks (which are deep). Anti-Asian hate crimes and random attacks have risen post-pandemic—always be aware of your surroundings and keep distance from strangers.

Alert: Controversial "Marked-Up" International Flight Scams

A well-known case involved a prestigious university student (B) selling international flights to classmates:

1. B partnered with a legitimate ticket agency as a commission-free reseller and advertised on student groups/social media.

2. Classmate (A) trusted B (a friend who had successfully sold tickets to others) and agreed to buy a return flight. B quoted £40k RMB (marking up the agency’s £20k price by £20k) and falsely promised free changes/refunds (with small fees).

3. When the flight was canceled (allowing free rescheduling), A requested a refund—but B only offered a small portion (saying the agency’s £20k ticket was non-refundable). A contacted the agency directly, exposed the markup, and was blocked by B.

Advice: Book flights via official airline websites or reputable platforms to avoid disputes over markups.

Alert: Fake "Emergency" Requests to Borrow Phones (Train Stations/Chinatowns)

Scammers of East Asian descent approach students in London’s train stations or Chinatowns, claiming their phone is dead and they need to make an urgent call. While one distracts the victim, the other steals the unlocked phone. Victims report scammers target vulnerable-looking individuals (avoiding groups of Chinese nationals).

Use public phones or ask shop staff for help instead of lending your device to strangers.

Chinese New Year Safety Reminder

London’s National Maritime Museum hosts Lunar New Year events on 29 January, with celebrations (paper-cutting, calligraphy, lanterns, lion dances) in Chinatowns across the UK. Stay masked, maintain social distance, and guard your belongings—happy new year!

Alert: NFT Scam Targeting a Tongji University Student

A senior industrial design student at Shanghai’s Tongji University lost ¥3.47 million (≈$548,000/200 ETH) to an NFT scam:

1. The student clicked a fraudulent "update/upgrade" link to a fake platform.

2. Their "Doodles" NFT was stolen and resold before they could act.

3. The OpenSea platform froze the NFT afterward, but the student could not recover their funds.

Alert: Fraudulent Chinese Medical Clinics in the UK

Some Chinese medical clinics in the UK have scammed international students (then blocked them):

1. Overcharging: They charge tens of pounds for free NHS medications and several times the market rate for PCR tests (some were once embassy-designated providers, enabling rapid expansion).

2. Exploitative Rentals: Chinese landlords often inflate rents for international students (e.g., charging £600+/month for a room without utilities, compared to £300+/month with utilities from local landlords). Many have obtained UK residency by profiting from these scams and now run restaurants or continue subletting.

Alert: Fake University of Newcastle WeChat Accounts

Scammers have created fake WeChat accounts impersonating the University of Newcastle (copying logos and profile photos) to defraud students—verify all official accounts via the university’s website.

Official Warning from China’s National Immigration Administration

Fraudsters are using the number 010-66265110 to impersonate immigration officials, claiming passports are invalid/stolen or linking victims to "illegal immigration" to demand money. The administration confirms it never uses this