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Protection from Scams

beware of scams

If an international student/scholar/dependent receives an email, text, social media message or phone call requesting something strange or demanding large sums of money, SLOW DOWN. Do not rush to act. No legitimate agency will demand money (or payment of any kind) to maintain immigration status or prevent arrest.

A number of scams target international students and scholars in the US and have become more sophisticated and convincing recently. Unfortunately, international students/scholars/dependents may receive fraud attempts by text or phone or through email or social media.

According to an important Emory News article about online scams, the five most common scams are as follows:

  1. Gift card scams
  2. Impersonation of a government agency or law enforcement
  3. Extortion scams
  4. Job scams
  5. Tech support scams

The Emory Police recommend looking out for the following clues from their fraud tips list:

  1. Appeals for emergency assistance
  2. Offers that are too good to be true
  3. Threats to one's academic standing or immigration status
  4. Requests for personal information
  5. Blackmail attempts 

What to Do-Slow Down!

These encounters can be troubling and students/scholars/dependents may want to resolve them as quickly as possible, but there are some steps an individual should take to avoid being scammed. International students/scholars/dependents should always check the email address of the sender if they receive a suspicious email. Before responding to an email/call/text/social media message and/or taking the requested action, they should ask themselves and others if it could be a scam.

When in doubt about the validity of a email/call/text/social media message and/or report a scam, Emory community members can do the following:

  1. Contact Emory Police at police@emory.edu or call 404-727-6111
  2. If contacted by email, forward the email as an attachment to abuse@emory.edu.
  3. Reach out to the Emory University IT service desk at 404-727-7777.
  4. If a student/scholar believes their Emory password has been compromised, change it immediately at MyPassword.
  5. Contact their ISSS advisor.
Helpful Tips

International students, scholars and dependents should especially keep these tips in mind. 

  •  International students, scholar and dependent should not do any of the following:
    • Give out or confirm any of the following information: name, date of birth, social security number, bank account or credit card information, passport number, Alien Registration Number, I-94 information, arrival/departure record, passwords, etc.      
    • Provide or confirm any information even it sounds like the caller/sender has the student/scholar/dependent's personal information.
    • Buy gift or cash cards.
    • Wire or transfer money.
       
  • If they receive a call from someone who says they are from their home government, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or a similar US government agency, they should hang up.
    • Scammers can manipulate the caller ID information to make it appear as if the call is coming from a different number than the actual caller. This is known as "spoofing" and it is often used by scammers to trick people into answering calls by displaying a familiar or trustworthy number on the caller ID screen.
    • Therefore, even if the caller id says the call is from USCIS, DHS, ICE, SEVP, FBI. Emory Police, etc, do not pick up.
    • If they call again, students and scholars can tell them to contact their international student/scholar advisor in Emory ISSS at 404-727-3300.
       
  • If they receive a call from someone who says they are from the Social Security Administration (SSA), they should hang up.
    • The SSA will never call and ask for money.
    • Students/scholars/dependents must not provide personal information or send money.
    • They should report the scam call to the Social Security Administration online.
       
  • If they are contacted by someone claiming to have information about their immigration status, the student or scholar should contact their ISSS advisor right away. An ISSS advisor can provide guidance and help determine if the call is legitimate.
     
  • If they are contacted by someone who threatens to file a lawsuit against an Emory international student or scholar, revoke their driver’s license, arrest them, or deport them, they should hang up and contact their ISSS advisor.
    • If this is a legitimate bill or fine, the individual should have received written correspondence in the mail before the call/text/email.
    • The scammer might provide a fake IRS badge number, fake "proof" that the student/scholar committed a crime, send bogus emails to support their call, or imitate a local police officer or government employee—and they might know the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.

Department of Homeland Security Notice

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning about a scam using the department’s hotline telephone number. Scammers have identified themselves as “US Immigration” employees and have altered their caller ID so that it appears the call is coming from the department’s hotline (1-800-323-8603). They then demand that the individual provide or verify personally identifiable information, often by telling individuals that they are victims of identity theft.

Read the DHS OIG fraud alert for more details.

Advice from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

If a person receives a call demanding personal information or payment, they should hang up immediately.
If the person wants to verify whether a call is from USCIS, they may do one of the following:

  • Call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 to ask if the person needs to do anything about their case or immigration status
  • Make an InfoPass appointment at http://infopass.uscis.gov, or
  • Use myUSCIS to find up-to-date information about their application.

USCIS officials will never threaten or ask for payment over the phone or in an email. If USCIS needs payment, they will mail a letter on official stationery requesting payment.

How to Report a Call from a Scammer
  • If a person receives a scam email or phone call, they should report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
  • If they are not sure if it is a scam, forward the suspicious email to the USCIS webmaster at uscis.webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov. USCIS will review the emails received and share with law enforcement agencies as appropriate.
  • Visit the Avoid Scams Initiative for more information on common scams and other important tips.

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