January brings the second maintenance loan instalment for most autumn starters and the first for students beginning in the new term. It is also when fraud attempts tend to rise, as criminals mimic official messages around payment windows. The Student Loans Company (SLC) pays billions directly into bank accounts each year, making this a prime target period. New January starters should take a moment to learn how SLC communicates before their first payment arrives.

Scams typically arrive as texts, emails or calls that appear to be from Student Finance England, SLC or a university, often claiming there is a problem with your payment that needs swift action. The tone is deliberately urgent: verify details now, update your banking information, or risk a block on your account.

SLC’s risk team is clear that the organisation will never ask you to confirm personal or bank details by text or email. If something feels off, pause, don’t click, and sign in to your secure online account independently rather than via any link in a message.

Ministers warn that students are routinely targeted at the start of term and say the government’s Fraud Strategy is being expanded to strengthen safeguards. Fraud Minister Lord Hanson has urged students to stay alert and use the Home Office’s Stop! Think Fraud resources for trusted advice.

Warning signs include poor spelling and punctuation, generic greetings such as ‘Dear Student’, and web addresses or URLs that do not match official domains. Bulk messages rarely include both your first and last name. If you are expecting a payment, treat any ‘urgent’ status message as suspicious until you have checked it yourself.

Think before you click. On a computer, hover over links to see where they actually go; on a phone, avoid tapping and access services directly via saved bookmarks or by typing the address. For a practical checklist, the government’s guide is at Link

Fraudsters also use phone calls, social posts and direct messages to prise out personal details or push you to move money. Always verify using official phone numbers and your online account. SLC and Student Finance England do not provide services through WhatsApp and will not initiate contact via social media. In England, SLC sends an SMS if your bank details are changed; if you did not make the change, log in promptly to review your information.

Be careful about what you share publicly. Information such as your full name, date of birth, customer reference number, course details and current or past addresses can be enough for identity theft. Reducing what is available about you online makes it harder for criminals to impersonate you.

If you have engaged with a suspicious message, act quickly. Contact your bank, change your SLC and email passwords, switch on two‑factor authentication where available, and watch for unfamiliar activity. Let your university know so support teams can advise and alert others.

Report suspicious messages to SLC’s Economic Crime Unit by emailing report@phishing.gov.uk and by calling the dedicated hotline on 0300 100 0059. Scam texts can also be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre. Further guidance is available from Action Fraud and the government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign.