IPP warns over Student Loans Company email scam

Graduate employers and payroll administration departments should be aware of an email scam from a group claiming to represent the Student Loans Company (SLC), the Institute of Payroll Professionals has warned.

The IPP says that several payroll service providers have alerted it to a scam email entitled "Security and Verification" from the address notifications@slc.co.uk. This email asks that students or their employers verify their account information to avoid any delay in loan or grant payments or repayments, by visiting what purports to be the student finance website.

Whilst the domain name of the sender and the linked website appear to be authentic - and the email bears both the Directgov Logo and lists the SLC's registered office and VAT number - the email is not in fact from the SLC.

The IPP says that the SLC would never ask students or anyone else to verify account details by email and has warned that anyone receiving the email should not enter the website for any reason. Such websites are not only 'phishing' scams to gain access to personal details for criminal reasons but are also delivery mechanisms for malware and other security threats.

Anyone receiving the email should immediately delete it. If the SLC requires any personal details, it will always make contact in writing via the post.