Inside the scam gangs taking UK students 'hostage' in sick blackmail plot to fleece families out of thousands of pounds…

These gangs are trading on fear and shame to rush students and families into paying. Remember: no legitimate authority will threaten you or demand immediate payment under duress. Hang up, report it to Action Fraud, and tell the student to contact their university's safeguarding team.

Stop and think before you act. If something feels urgent, threatening, or too good to be true — that urgency is the weapon. Scammers use pressure to override your judgement. Nothing is ever so urgent that you can't take five minutes to check, call back on a number you found yourself, or ask someone you trust.