The International Students and Scholars Center at Arizona State University wants to help you protect yourself from common scams that target international students studying in the U.S. Callers may claim that a U.S. government agency is pursuing legal action, that your degree will be canceled, or that your immigration status will be revoked.

Specifically, we have learned recently that there may be scammers using the SEVP Response Center phone numbers (703-603-3400 and 800-892-4829) and claiming to be SRC representatives. These fraudulent callers are inquiring about Form I-94 documents and asking you to provide information regarding monetary transactions.

Additionally, there may also be scams from callers who claim to be employees of product companies like Apple, who ask for personal information or payment over the phone. 

Most recent, an email phishing scam from uscis.webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov ,Support Team <uscis.webmaster@uscis.tienda> with the subject Failure to update AR-11 (Alien’s change of address) with USCIS has been circulating.  

Scammers may impersonate an employee of a government agency such as the IRS, ICE, FBI, CBP, SEVP Response Center, USCIS or even a U.S. Consulate. Visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for tips on avoiding common scams or read DHS’s Identity Theft and Internet Scams Tip Card. 

If you receive a call from an unknown person who claims to be a government official:

• Do not give them any personal or financial information.
• Do not give them any money, including Google Pay, iTunes or Bitcoin.
• End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist.
• Save the caller’s phone number so you can report it.
• Contact the ISSC by phone or email.
• Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Report the scam to ICE’s anonymous Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line. 

U.S. government agencies will not contact you by phone or email. Most government agencies will contact you via regular mail for official communications. If you are the target of a scam, please notify the ISSC at 480-727-4776 or ISSC@asu.edu.

For more tips to avoid scams, please visit the following links:

• Social Security number scams.
• USCIS tips to avoid scams.
• Protect yourself from common scams. 
• Federal Trade Commission.
• U.S. News & World Report: What International Students Should Know about Scams.
• Newsweek: U.S. Scammers Threaten International Students with Deportation.