Students face ‘blackmail by gangs’ over essays scam

STUDENT leaders are calling for government action after university academics revealed students who cheat at coursework are being blackmailed by gangs.

A study by Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research discovered students who resort to paying third parties to produce essays and dissertations on their behalf are, in turn, facing cash demands from the agents as the price for keeping silent.

It is feared that students are increasingly turning to ‘contract cheating’ due to less supervision as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Alistair Fraser of the University of Glasgow is coauthor of the report. He said: ‘Contract cheating is not entirely new but online essay mills, coupled with increasing pressure, have made the issue much more widespread.’