Scam alert update

January might feel quieter after Christmas, but for scammers, it’s anything but. As people sell unwanted gifts, wait for student finance payments and deal with tax deadlines, criminals look for moments of uncertainty and distraction.

Here are the key scams to watch out for this month.

Post-Christmas marketplace scams: counterfeit cash

With many people selling unwanted gifts or upgrading tech in January, social media marketplaces are a prime hunting ground for fraudsters.

A growing tactic involves buyers paying with counterfeit banknotes. The transaction often looks genuine — meeting in a public place, friendly conversation, no obvious red flags — until the seller later realises the notes are fake.

To reduce the risk:

1. Avoid accepting large amounts of cash for high-value items
2. Use bank transfers or reputable payment platforms where possible
3. If you do accept cash, check notes using the look, feel, tilt method
4. Be wary of rushed sales or pressure to complete quickly.

Find out more about look, feel, tilt, here.

Student finance scams as January payments land

January is a high-risk period for students, as maintenance loan payments are issued for many courses.

Scammers take advantage by sending convincing emails, texts and phone calls that appear to come from the Student Loans Company, claiming there’s a problem with a payment that needs urgent action.

Key things to remember:

1. Student Finance will never ask you to confirm bank or personal details by text or email
2. Generic greetings like “Dear Student” are a warning sign
3. Messages creating urgency (“account suspended”, “payment delayed”) are unlikely to be genuine
4. Always check directly via your official online account, not through links.

A pause before clicking can be the difference between staying safe and losing money.

WhatsApp ‘ghost pairing’ scam

A newer threat affecting WhatsApp users is the so-called ghost pairing scam.

Victims receive a message that looks like it’s from WhatsApp — or from someone they know — asking them to share or return a code. In reality, that code links the victim’s account to a scammer’s device.

The danger is that WhatsApp can continue to work normally on your phone, meaning the account compromise may go unnoticed.

One rule matters most: never share a WhatsApp verification code with anyone. You can check and remove linked devices at any time in your WhatsApp settings.

Instagram password reset emails causing confusion

In recent weeks, many users have reported receiving unexpected password reset emails from Instagram, sometimes several in quick succession.

This doesn’t always mean your account has been hacked. However, it is a sign that someone may be trying to access your account.

If this happens:

1. Don’t click links in the email — go directly to Instagram
2. Change your password to something strong and unique
3. Turn on two-factor authentication if you haven’t done so already.

HMRC scams ahead of the self-assessment deadline

With the 31 January self-assessment deadline approaching, HM Revenue & Customs is warning taxpayers to be extra vigilant.

Scammers are sending fake tax demands, threatening messages and links to cloned HMRC websites. These often arrive at a time when people are genuinely expecting to hear from HMRC, which makes them harder to spot.

HMRC will never threaten arrest or demand immediate payment by text. Suspicious texts can be forwarded to 60599, and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.