Student fraud warning after 'so many' recent cases

Students are a target for criminals, according to police, because they are young and away from parental guidance

Students in Leeds have been warned to be wary of criminals attempting to defraud them out of their finances.

The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit told the BBC it had handled "so many" recent cases involving young adults studying away from home.

A "cyber safe day" at the University of Leeds, said to be the first of its kind in the region, has been organised to help educate students about how to spot the signs of fraud.

The event will be held on Monday at the Riley Smith Theatre.

Students are a target for criminals, according to police, because they are young and away from parental guidance.

Andy Fox, counter fraud coordinator at the unit, said rental fraud was a key example - with students looking for flats and homes in busy city centres "where accommodation is hard to come by".

"They might see something on social media that's affordable and they're enticed to leaving a deposit before they've even seen it," Mr Fox said.

"They turn up to the property to find it doesn't exist or it's a private house that someone already owns."

Event attendees will include staff from Crimestoppers, Virgin Money, Leeds Building Society and West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit says competition to secure student accomodation was leading some young people to take risks

Mr Fox said international students are also being targeted by fraudsters.

"We've seen messages to students saying they're from the overseas embassy," he said.

"They tell students they've been involved in illegal money laundering and their families are liable for arrest unless they hand over huge amounts of money."

The "cyber safe day" event is part of a collaboration with Leeds University Union.

Lilly Butt, head of wellbeing and partnerships at the union, said fraud can have a "huge impact mentally and socially" on young people.

"It goes so far as students skipping meals to try and make up the money," she said.

"If a student has exams or dissertations due it can have academic implications."

Jade Kemp, a Leeds Beckett University student, says she was tricked by a ticket scam

Jade Kemp, a 22-year-old Leeds Beckett University student, said she "felt like an idiot" after attempting to buy concert tickets advertised on social media, only to discover they were fake.

"I was an easy target, they looked at me and saw I was young," said Ms Kemp.

"It seemed very real - I received an email and the link took me to a legit website."

She added: "I lost £150, it's such a massive amount for a student".

Zara Ali, 19, also a Leeds Beckett University student, realised she was being scammed when the allowance sent by her parents started rapidly diminishing.

"It was coming out every month and I hadn't realised," Ms Ali said.

"At first I thought it was me, I had no idea how it had been set up."

Maddie, a University of Leeds student, says she spots online scams "all the time"

The subscription, established without her knowledge, was taking more than a third of her income.

"I contacted the bank and they told me someone had hacked my account," she said.

"I'm more careful since then, it was a lesson learned."

Maddie, a 21-year-old University of Leeds student, said: "People will act as if they're selling tickets to club nights, you send over the money but the tickets never arrive.

"They're fake accounts - my friends have been really upset by it."

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