A swindler student who tried to defraud hundreds of international applicants to UK universities in a scam worth up to £500,000 has been jailed.
Sibtain Hussain, 32, targeted the soon-to-be students demanding payments for proof of ‘financial capability’, ‘student services’, and ‘accommodation deposits’.
The fraudster, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, created multiple phone numbers, email addresses, aliases and bank accounts to facilitate the scheme in a bid to avoid detection.
In 2018, unauthorised access was gained to Lancaster University’s internal computer system and applicant data was stolen.
Hussain, who began studying at the same university in 2017, gained access to the stolen data and used it in the fraud scheme.
He persistently targeted more than 200 individuals by phone and email demanding sums up to £3,200.
More than £48,000 was sent by 23 students as a result of Hussain’s efforts, but a large majority of payments were blocked by banks.
Sibtain Hussain (pictured on an ID card), 32, tried to defraud hundreds of international applicants to UK universities in a scam worth up to £500,000
Hussain created multiple phone numbers, email addresses, aliases and bank accounts to facilitate the scheme in a bid to avoid detection
When Hussain was arrested, two mobile phones and a wallet were seized which contained evidence linking him to the crimes such as this bank card
The fraud had the potential to generate more than £493,000 in illegal profits.
After receiving reports that applicants had been targeted, Lancaster University reported the data breach to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in July 2019.
An investigation was subsequently launched by the NCA with ongoing assistance from the university.
Officers identified and spoke to several of the targeted applicants including those who had made payments.
Multiple links between Hussain and various accounts associated with fraud were then identified.
When Hussain was arrested in July 2019 in Bradford, two mobile phones and a wallet were seized which contained evidence linking him to the crimes.
He initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court in October 2025.
Hussain was sentenced yesterday to four and a half years for fraud and 12 months for money laundering.