Exam Fraud: Social Media Scammers Selling Fake GCSE and A-Level Papers for High Prices
Fake GCSE and A-level exam papers are being sold on Instagram and TikTok by scammers for high prices.
These papers are likely to be fakes and fraudulent, and it is extremely rare for genuine papers to be leaked.
Exam boards say that the scams are becoming more common, with fraudsters charging between £7.50 and £4,000 per paper.
Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have stated that fraudulent activity is against their rules and anyone who spots such accounts should report them.
Exam regulator Ofqual has warned that any students caught cheating could be banned from taking their exams.
Students are paying "ridiculous prices" for these papers, with some paying up to £900.
BBC News posed as a GCSE student and contacted two separate Instagram accounts claiming to sell exam papers, but the transaction was blocked.
The sale of future exam papers or answer sheets is not allowed on Instagram, and any such content will be removed from the platform.
The exam boards have no power to shut down the accounts, so they report them to social media platforms, citing copyright as a way to escalate the complaint.
The article discusses the issue of fraudulent social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
These accounts are used to post fake news and misinformation, often for financial gain.
They are difficult to detect and shut down, as fraudsters quickly create new accounts after their old ones are closed.
This phenomenon is described as "digital whack-a-mole." The article advises students to avoid relying on such fraudulent sources of information when preparing for exams.
The consequences of doing so can be serious, including financial loss and legal repercussions.
Exam boards say that the scams are becoming more common, with fraudsters charging between £7.50 and £4,000 per paper.
Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have stated that fraudulent activity is against their rules and anyone who spots such accounts should report them.
Exam regulator Ofqual has warned that any students caught cheating could be banned from taking their exams.
Students are paying "ridiculous prices" for these papers, with some paying up to £900.
BBC News posed as a GCSE student and contacted two separate Instagram accounts claiming to sell exam papers, but the transaction was blocked.
The sale of future exam papers or answer sheets is not allowed on Instagram, and any such content will be removed from the platform.
The exam boards have no power to shut down the accounts, so they report them to social media platforms, citing copyright as a way to escalate the complaint.
The article discusses the issue of fraudulent social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
These accounts are used to post fake news and misinformation, often for financial gain.
They are difficult to detect and shut down, as fraudsters quickly create new accounts after their old ones are closed.
This phenomenon is described as "digital whack-a-mole." The article advises students to avoid relying on such fraudulent sources of information when preparing for exams.
The consequences of doing so can be serious, including financial loss and legal repercussions.
