Watch out for Freshers ticket scams

‘Reps’ for these events have been seen infiltrating new student groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, like accommodation and course groups. They pretend to be students (sometimes even stealing identities) and look for opportunities to bring up their event offers.

What to look out for

• Impersonation – do you really know who you’re talking to online? While it is exciting getting in touch with your flat or course mates in the lead up to the start of term, keep in mind that not everyone is who they say they are online. Don’t blindly trust links and recommendations from people you meet on social media.
• Selling fast! Don’t miss out! – as with any scam, they will try to create a sense of urgency, so you act fast and don’t think. Watch out for claims of ‘unmissable experiences’ and tickets that are ‘almost sold out.’
• Check the URL – don’t blindly click links, check where they lead first and make sure it’s a site you are familiar with.
• Vague details – these scams often don’t have a venue or date advertised but they will try to hide this with flashy graphics.
• Deals that are too good to be true – if something sounds too good to be true it probably is. That might be in the form of wristbands that promise to get you into multiple venues or special tickets that let you skip the queues.

If in doubt, check the official events organised by our NTSU.

New Cyber Security Awareness module

We’ve just released a second cyber security module to NOW, check them out and learn how to:

• Identify the warning signs and avoid being a victim of phishing emails and social media fakes.
• Avoid common student scams like money muling and romance scams.
• Study safely in public spaces.
• Protect yourself when using social media platforms.