February 27, 2019

FOREIGN STUDENT SCAM 

Scammers pretending to be from the federal government are scaring international students into paying them money. The Federal Trade Commission has received reports that foreign students, particularly from South Asian countries, are receiving phone calls that look like they’re from the government.

A scam caller typically knows about a student’s immigration status and the program or school they’re attending. They will say there is a problem with the student’s immigration documents, or visa renewal. And then demand immediate payment, often thousands of dollars, for a service fee or bogus immigration bond. These callers make threats, including arrest or deportation, if the students don’t pay.  They ask to be paid with gift cards (like Google Play or iTunes) or a cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin).

What makes a call suspect?

*The federal government will not make such calls,

*The federal government will not make such threats,

* The Federal will not ask for such payments.

 Any callers who want to be paid with gift cards or cryptocurrency are scammers. They like those payment methods because the money will disappear without a trace, never to be recovered.

If you get a call that is anything like this, hang up the phone. If you’re not convinced it was a scam, talk to someone you trust about the call. Several people report that they figured out the call was a scam after talking with a relative, the local police, or a school official. It’s likely that others in your community received the same call. Talking about the call could help others in your area. And if you’re concerned about your visa or immigration documentation, call USCIS’s National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283.

If a scammer has contacted you or someone you know, please report it to FTC.gov/Complaint. That could help someone else avoid being scammed.