Freshers SCAMMED by Wristband Sellers

Over the move in weekend freshers in halls have been targeted by unscrupulous promoters selling bogus wristbands. Many students purchased them in the belief that they were official JCR wristbands for freshers fortnight events.

Promoters told students that the “Infinity Bands” were recognised by the JCR Committees and the University and the bands even mimicked the official JCR colours for Hartley Grove and Monte.  JCR Members were quick to put the word out to freshers about the fake bands using Facebook and word of mouth. After the news was broken over the fake bands one student told The Tab:

They were coming around our halls so we thought they must be legit…The advertising flyers looked really official too

Another student said:

There were loads of people coming up and down, checking we were settling in and stuff so we didn’t really think it was anything out of the ordinary and just assumed he was legitimate

Inifinity Bands’ website claims to be:

your number one source of exclusive local discounts only with your University of Southampton Infinity Band

They "Cannaught" get everything right

However many of the discounts offered on the page are normal student discounts available without purchasing the £5 wristband. The site offers different coloured wristbands for different halls in Southampton, often the same official halls colours used by the JCR Committees. There are some notable mistakes and omissions, such as “Cannaught” and all the Glen Eyre and Chamberlain halls listed seperately

A spokesman from Infinity Bands told The Tab:

 At no point have we intimated that we are involved in any way with the University of Southampton. Promoters are fully aware of this, and are briefed not to sell on campus.

We will review our website to ensure there are no possible misconceptions that we are involved with the University.

SUSU Vice President Student Engagement Shane Murphy said:

 The infinity wristbands are in no way linked to the JCRs within halls. As soon as SUSU became aware of the situation we passed on the information to our JCR teams and requested they made it clear to the students within their respective halls. We have also been in communication with the University to ensure that staff members within halls are aware

The University of Southampton issued a statement confirming that the bands are in no way associated with them.

Freshers are often targeted in this way. Last year, fake Facebook groups appeared and were selling practically useless tickets to Solent events to University of Southampton students. Read more here.

Did you purchase one of the bands? Were you misled by the promoters? Let us know in the comments below.