More than 15 students in Nigeria have been sent fraudulent degree offer letters purporting to be from Liverpool Hope University.

According to the BBC, bogus educational and scholarship agencies have then asked for non-refundable acceptance fees before they could be admitted. Several of the students got in touch with the university when they had paid and not heard anything more.

A spokesperson for Liverpool Hope has warned prospective students to use an officially appointed university agent but is helping those affected to re-apply The fraud also appeared to have an official university letterhead and to have been signed by actual members of university staff.

The quality of English was poor (This is from Liverpool. right? - Ed) and the email address was wrong.

Bassey I Ekanem, a student from Nigeria who applied legitimately through the university website, told the BBC that it was dream come true for students to come here to the UK to study. Scammers take advantage of this dream and the fact that students are desperate to make their dreams come true. X

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