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̾ƵInternational student in front of a row of world flags
International Students and Scholars

Beware of Scams

The most common scam – Caller ID Spoofing

Scammers use a technique called “Caller ID spoofing” to call international students, often posing as an immigration official or police officer to request personal information. The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or police precinct telephone number will be displayed in the called ID.

The scammer will...

  • claim you are in trouble with immigration law and facing deportation
  • ask you to go to a store and purchase a voucher payable to the scammer through a pre-loaded debit card
  • threaten you with deportation if you do not pay

Remember!

Remember these important clues so that you can identify scammers and keep your personal information safe:

  1. Never feel pressured to give information over the phone, especially if the call is unexpected. Scammers may try to use calls, texts, and emails to impersonate government agents.
  2. As a rule, never provide your personal or financial information over the phone.
  3. Law enforcement agencies will never ask for money in exchange for cancellation of a deportation order or for rectifying an alleged out-of-status situation.
  4. SEVP and DHS officials will never offer immigration services in exchange for payment using the internet or phone. Nor will they use a third party to solicit or collect a fee.
  5. Do not get into a long conversation or an argument. Simply tell the person you know it is a fraudulent call and hang up.
  6. Remember! Should there be an investigation or inquiry initiated by any of the government agencies, you will be informed in the mail, never over the phone or email!
  7. Report the incident to the University Security and ISS office immediately. In addition, please report the incident to the or at 1 (866) 347-2423.

REMAIN CALM! You should not be frightened by threats of prosecution or deportation coming from any entity or private person over the phone.

  • USCIS or any other government entity, personal bank, or any other company a person might actually have legitimate business with will never solicit money or services in this manner.
  • No order of deportation can be announced over the phone. Only an immigration judge can rule and issue an order of deportation.
  • Scammers do research and know the phone numbers for the agencies/companies they are posing. Scammers count on their victims not to question them or call the real number back. They have ways to misrepresent phone numbers, IP addresses and email accounts.
  • Never, under any circumstances, call the number back or answer their email.