Scams
The ISSS Office is aware that F-1 and J-1 students and scholars have been targeted by scammers pretending to be representatives of USCIS and other government agencies. While scams will happen, we want to give you the tools to protect yourself against these scams.
You are asked for personal information/told to do something urgently over the phone or via email.
You are receiving a phone call from USCIS or a US Government Agency.
USCIS and US Government Agencies will never email or call you asking for personal information – they will never contact you unexpectedly. NEVER provide any personal information.
Tip #1: If you are called by someone claiming to be part of ICE, USCIS, or another government agency that’s asking for personal information, ask for their name, badge number, and a phone number to call them back at. If they do not give you the option to call back, hang up.
Tip #2: If you are sent an email by someone claiming to be part of ICE, USCIS or another government agency, immediately look at the email address of who is sending it to you.
Government agencies only send emails from accounts that end in .gov. If you receive an email from someone claiming to be a US Agency and the email ends with any other address (such as gmail, outlook, icloud, etc.) it is a scam.
You are being threatened with deportation or harm if you do not do something immediately.
Scammers like to manipulate the emotions of their victims and stress them out, so they make quicker, panicked decisions. If this occurs, please hang up and do not provide any personal information.
You are being asked to purchase gift cards or send money/pay.
Government Agencies will not ask for payment via email or phone. Legitimate agencies or companies will never ask for you to pay in gift cards.
You are sent an email with unknown attachments, from an unknown sender. Do not follow any random links.
Do not open any attachments, especially .zip or compressed files, unless you trust the source they are coming from. If you receive any of these types of emails to your UofL account, please notify Information Technology Services and take the following steps.
Scams can happen to anyone! The ISSS team is here to assist you. If you ever feel like you are being/have been scammed or are unsure if something is a scam, reach out to us immediately.
- Never give out your Social Security Number. It is a very sensitive number, and you should not carry it with you at all times. Keep it in a safe, private spot.
- The IRS (Internal Revenue Services) does not call people and demand payment. If this occurs, hang up the phone.
- Understand the contracts/agreements that you sign. If you are signing a lease agreement, be sure that you understand all the terms and conditions. It’s always a good idea to carefully read over anything that asks for your signature.
- Ask if you can call the person back. If they are asking for personal information, threatening you, or demanding payment, ask for their number so you can call them back. If they do not give you a number, hang up.
- Please note: some scammers can “spoof” phone numbers, so it looks like you’re getting a call from the UofL Police Department, USCIS, ICE, etc. Be sure to hang up the call then try to call the number back to verify if you’re really speaking with that office/agency.
For more tips and resources about avoiding scams, please read USCIS’ brochure here.
- USCIS has a website of Common Scams facing international students and scholars. You can access it here.
- Our office has recently seen an uptick in scams related to dating apps, “failure to report” deportation emails (AR-11), and demands for money/to leave the country to keep family and friends safe from harm. We have also seen scams via text, where someone will reach out to a student about a job offer randomly.