The Student Loans Company (SLC) reminded students to be alert to scams as maintenance loan payments began for the 2026/27 academic year, according to a press release published on 1 September 2026. The SLC said it was scheduled to pay approximately £2.6 billion in maintenance support to 1.1m students that September, a period it said scammers use to send convincing texts, emails or calls claiming a payment is at risk.

Students were told the SLC will never ask them to provide or confirm personal or financial information by email, text message or any social media platform. Those receiving unexpected communications should avoid clicking links and instead sign in to their student finance account through GOV.UK. Alan Balanowski, Risk Director at the SLC, said the advice was to stop and think before clicking.

The SLC said its prevention measures saved £56.2 million last year alone. Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said criminals target students managing their finances for the first time. Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk and scam texts to 7726. The SLC and Student Finance England do not provide services through WhatsApp, the release said.