Exam boards are warning students about scammers selling fake GCSE and A-level papers on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Despite claims from the platforms that they do not allow the sale of exam papers, dozens of accounts have been found offering fake papers for hundreds of pounds.
Students have described the accounts as "very easy to find" and "psychologically manipulative". The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) says it is highly unlikely real papers are being leaked online, and exam regulator Ofqual warns that students who try to cheat could lose their qualification.
Head teacher Chas Drew at The Commonweal School in Swindon is taking a proactive approach, showing students the scam accounts so they know what to look out for. "There's nothing we do that's more important than teaching them how to keep themselves safe," he said.
Exam boards have teams of analysts scouring social media to report fraudulent accounts, but they can only report incidents in the same way as any other user. The JCQ wants direct access to social media enforcement teams to shut down accounts more quickly.
Instagram and TikTok have said they remove any content that tries to defraud or scam members, but accounts often remain active for several days after being reported. The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) has also reported instances of time zone cheating, where students share information with those yet to sit exams.
Students are warned that trying to cheat could result in no marks for individual exams or being banned from sitting future exams. The JCQ and exam boards are working to prevent scammers from targeting students, but students must also be vigilant and report any suspicious accounts.
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