MCAST warns students about scam email demanding payment

MCAST has warned students about a scam email threatening recipients with legal action if they do not pay non-existent tuition fees. 

The email, which purports to come from the Paola-based college, is a scam and people should disregard it, MCAST said on Tuesday. 

“We’re aware of a scam email currently circulating. Please do not click links or share bank details,” MCAST said in a Facebook post. 

The email sent to MCAST students states that they owe €550 in unpaid tuition fees.  

“Furthermore, if your debt is not settled before 27/01/2026, we will have to forward your file to our litigation department,” the email says. 

MCAST is one of Malta's largest post-secondary and tertiary education institutes. 

The email includes an IBAN number where payment can be effected. The IBAN begins with an “MT”- the country code used for Maltese bank accounts. 

It also asks for proof of payment to be sent to an email ending with  @mcast.edu.mt.  

“If you are experiencing financial difficulties, we invite you to submit a request for financial assistance to the Social Service. The service will analyze your request in complete confidentiality,” the email says. 

The scam email warning comes on the same day that private ferry operator Virtu Ferries warned customers about a fraudulent third-party website selling fake Virtu tickets. 

Cybercrime: a growing problem

Cybercrime is rising at an alarming rate, with a survey last year finding that over 40 per cent of Malta’s highest earners have fallen victim and lost money to online scams. 

The Vincent Marmara study found that over half the population (58.5%) reported being targeted by scammers. Eight out of every 10 of them said they realised immediately the attempt was fraudulent. 

The most common scam attempts were through phone calls (54.0%) and SMS messages (53.3%). Seven out of every 10 people who communicated with a scammer did so only once before realising it was fraud. 

The study pointed to greater exposure and frequent use of digital platforms like online banking, Revolut, Apple Pay and Google Pay, which increases their chances of being targeted by fraudsters.

Geoffrey Bezzina, an official at the financial services arbiter’s office, said scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. 

“The reality is that scam tactics are so advanced that anyone can fall for them. Which is why everyone should be extremely vigilant when engaging on social platforms and encouraged to invest on online platforms,” he told Times of Malta last year. 

“Everyone, no matter how experienced, should treat financial security as a lifelong commitment. We need to encourage regular conversations and learning, because anyone can be caught off guard.”