Scammers are aggressively targeting international students with fake calls, emails, and letters that appear to be from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration (SSA), and even local law enforcement. They use official-looking email addresses, spoof real government employee names, phone numbers, and addresses, and even send fraudulent documents with seals and signatures that appear authentic.
We have received reports of students receiving calls and letters from individuals claiming to be USCIS or DHS officers threatening deportation unless they make an immediate payment for an immigration violation. Others have received emails from someone pretending to be the IRS stating that they owe unpaid taxes and must pay through a wire transfer or gift card to avoid penalties. In some cases, scammers have even posed as police officers, claiming that the student’s visa is under investigation and demanding personal information.
These scams are very convincing, but government agencies will never contact you in these ways.
What These Agencies Will NEVER Do:
- Call, email, or text you demanding immediate payment or threatening visa cancellation, deportation, or arrest.
- Ask for personal details like your Social Security number, bank information, or passwords over the phone.
- Require payment through unconventional methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or prepaid debit cards.
- Pressure you to act immediately with threats or scare tactics.
What Scammers Do:
- Call from numbers that look official (but aren’t) and may even display “USCIS” or “IRS” on caller ID.
- Demand urgent payment for a “visa violation,” “unpaid taxes,” or an issue with your Social Security number.
- Pretend to be police or federal officers, sometimes using fake badge numbers.
- Ask you to confirm personal details or login credentials by clicking on links in an email or text message.
- Threaten severe consequences like freezing your bank accounts, arrest, or deportation if you do not comply.
If You Receive a Suspicious Letter, Call or Email:
- Do not engage. Hang up, ignore the email, and do not click on any links.
- Do not provide any personal or financial information. Government agencies already have your details on file.
- Check with OIS. If you are unsure whether a message is real, contact the Office of International Services before taking any action.
- Report the scam. You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to OIS so we can warn other students.
Resources to Protect Yourself:
- USCIS Scams Alert
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Scam Alerts
- IRS Tax Scams
- Social Security Administration Fraud Prevention
Scammers are very convincing, but don’t let them scare you into making a mistake. When in doubt, always check with OIS or the Department of Public Safety (DPS) first.