ICE, USCIS, SEVP scam, phishing; fraud advisory

More and more international students report that they have received phishing emails or calls from scammers who may pose as DHS or school officials or ICE, USCIS, SEVP officers. Since international students are in a unique position where their legal status is linked to immigration status, they tend to be more vulnerable to these phishing emails or calls.

This blog post will have a look at specific ICE, USCIS, SEVP scam examples that I have observed and SEVP recommendations to avoid phishing scams.

Contents

• School, ICE, USCIS, SEVP scam
• How to avoid scams
• Report scams
• Resources to avoid scams

School, ICE, USCIS, SEVP scam

Phishing emails sent to your school email

When you are accepted by the U.S. colleges and universities, you will be given @school.edu email address. Since the school email address is only given to students, faculty and staff members of the university, students tend to consider emails sent with the school email are reliable.

Please be mindful that scammers can create a fake email address that looks like your @school.edu email address. Scammers may pose as a professor or alumni and say they have worked with international students like you before. Then, they might deceive you by saying there is an available employment opportunity and ask for the money eventually. For this scenario, first-year international students tend to be victims.

It is worth noting that international students should be authorized first to engage in off-campus employment. If you are not sure if the email is legit, forward the email to your DSO (International Student Advisor) and ask for their opinions.

Related blog post 1: CPT allows internship for international students in USA
Related blog post 2: All about F1 immigration status; entry date, Form I-515A

Phishing calls by scammers posing as government officials

Fraudulent callers impersonate government officials like ICE, USCIS, SEVP Response Center, and Ombudsman and use their phone numbers to contact students. Below are the phone numbers of each government agency. Again, even if the phone number that called you is exactly the same as below, it can be scam calls.

• ICE: 802-872-6020
• USCIS: 800-375-5283
• SEVP Response Center (SRC): 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829
• Ombudsman: 1-855-882-8100 and 202-357-8100

Imposters then would intimidate you by asking why you didn’t update the Alien Registration number or why you haven’t paid the SEIVS I-901 fee. Their goal is making you give them your personal information or money. It is easy to feel insecure as they would threaten students that they are violating the immigration regulations and there will be problems with their legal status.

To not fell into scams, it is important to remember that government officials will NEVER ask for your private information NOR ask you for payment in exchange for immigration benefits or services. Examples of private information include bank account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or date of birth.

Threats don’t make sense if you are aware of immigration regulations as most students don’t have to update the Alien Registration numbers and the SEVIS fee is needed before you enter the U.S. to schedule your visa interview.

A legitimate ICE employee will never ask a member of the public for payment of any kind! REPORT any fraudulent schemes to the anonymous ICE Tip Line: 1-866-347-2423

Beware of ICE imposters

The Ombudsman’s Office is issuing a public warning about a scam using the Ombudsman’s telephone numbers. Scammers have identified themselves as “U.S. Immigration” employees and have altered their caller ID to seem like the call is coming from the Ombudsman’s Office (1-855-882-8100 and 202-357-8100). They then demand that the individual provide or verify personally identifiable information, often by telling individuals that they are victims of identity theft. Please do not give any information to these callers. They are perpetrating a scam and are not a part of the Ombudsman’s Office.

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Immigration Scams

How to avoid scams

The best practice to do when you received phishing calls is just hang up the call. Or you can ask for their name and phone number to call back. Pasted below is a fraud advisory from ICE.

If you receive a threatening call or message from someone claiming to be a government or law enforcement official, you should:

– Not give the person any personal or financial information. 

– Collect the caller’s contact information.

– End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist. 

– Contact your designated school official and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line. 

Students: read these tips to avoid scams

Report scams

If you got the phishing emails or calls and would like to report them, you can do so by completing the online form or making anonymous call:

• USCIS Tip Form
• ICE Tip Form (To report scams by phone, dial 866-347-2423)

Resources to avoid scams

To increase awareness of fraud calls and emails, almost every government websites have resources to avoid scams. Below are some of the examples. Please read them through to see more examples of phishing emails and calls and be well-prepared for future events.

• Students: read these tips to avoid scams by StudyintheStates
• Students: Protect yourself from common scams by StudyintheStates
• Common Scams by USCIS
• Beware of ICE imposters by ICE
• Scams, Fraud, and Misconduct by USCIS
• Avoid Becoming a Victim of Immigration Scams by DHS

Remember that fraudulent calls and emails might sound or look like real but government officials will never call you and ask for personal identifiable information or money. The rule of the thumb is not providing those information over the phone or email.