Payment Advice

Who can make a payment?

We strongly advise that payments for your tuition or accommodation are made by yourself or an immediate trustworthy family member (mother/father/brother/sister/husband/wife/paternal and maternal aunt or uncle) and not by a third party or unrelated person. Any refund of money paid to the University of South Wales will only be refunded back to the original payer via the original payment method/account.

Advice before making a payment

Applicants and students are often targeted by fraudsters when paying their university fees. Fraudsters will offer significant discounts, incentives, or attractive exchange rates to encourage students/applicants to use these methods of payment. The University of South Wales does not offer any incentives for payment via a third party. The University is not responsible for any financial loss to any student/applicant as a result of fraudulent activity. The University has a zero-tolerance approach towards fraud.

How to stay safe

• Do not ask others to make payments for you.
• Always use the University’s approved payment routes.
• Do not pay your fees to anyone, not even Agents. Only pay the University using the Payments page.
• Do not pay anyone who is offering a discount on your tuition fees – this is most likely fraudulent activity.
• Ask for a number to call back. Usually, a fraudster will never give out their details. Do not share anything over the phone. Do not share your bank account, credit or debit card details with anyone. Your bank will never ask for full details over the phone, like the PIN, and neither will the University.
• Do not share your student ID or University login details with anyone, especially on social media with strangers or any third-party agent.
• Be cautious of offers of easy money or discounts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Beware of favourable exchange rates provided by unsolicited agents.
• Do not feel pressured to transfer money to an unknown individual.

If in doubt or if you have any questions about payment options, contact us using the contact details on our websites or official documentation.

Consequences

Losing money on tuition/accommodation fees can have serious consequences. Money laundering is a serious criminal offence, and if the university is informed of or suspects fraudulent payment activity, it will take appropriate action in accordance with its Anti-Money Laundering & Fraud processes. In cases of payment fraud, be it knowingly or unknowingly:

• The University reserves the right to reject an application or withdraw a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
• You will be held accountable for any fraudulent, attempted, or received payments made to the University, even if you did not make the payment directly.
• You may risk losing your money, and you will still be required to pay by the payment due date.
• To verify the source of the payment, we may require evidence of the payment clearing your bank account before payment is allocated to your record.

Fee payment scams

Tuition Fees Card Fraud

External third-party agents/friends claim to make a payment on the student’s/applicant’s behalf. Students/applicants can also be approached by a fraudster and/or another student either in person or via social media. They will offer to provide help to pay tuition/accommodation fees. The fraudster will pay the fees using stolen bank or debit/credit card details. However, when the genuine cardholder reports this, the funds are recalled, leaving the tuition fee unpaid.

The third-party agent/friend will appear to have made a successful payment by sending you a copy of the receipt showing the full payment made to the University. In reality, all they have done is made a successful smaller payment using a stolen debit/credit card and then altered the receipt to make it seem like they have paid the tuition fees.

Money muling

The ‘money mule’ trap involves students being offered payment in exchange for temporarily receiving money into their bank account. Students will then be asked to withdraw the cash or transfer it into another account. This type of scam is on the increase, targeting students who are short of cash and who may be tempted by offers to make ‘easy money’ on job search or social media websites.

Further guidance

Action Fraud

UK Council for International Student Affairs

Stop! Think Fraud

Money Mules