United States: Protecting Against Immigration Fraud Schemes

In a common immigration-fraud scheme, you may receive a phone call or email from someone who purports to be an official of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or another government agency. The individual may claim that there is a problem with your immigration or tax records and demand money or information. These calls are typically fraudulent.

If you receive a call claiming to be from a U.S. government official, protect yourself as follows:

• Do not forward funds. The IRS and USCIS never solicit payment via telephone or email. Be especially suspicious of a caller who demands unconventional payment methods such as store gift cards.
• Do not provide sensitive personal information over the phone unless you are sure the call is legitimate. Do not provide or confirm personal information, such as a Social Security Number, I-94 number, birth date, or passport number, unless you are sure you are speaking with a government official (see below). If you are doubtful, ask for the caller’s name and call-back number; illegitimate callers will typically hang up.
• Do not be fooled by misleading caller ID information. A common scheme involves displaying the caller ID as “U.S. Government,” “U.S. Immigration,” “911,” “USCIS,” or “IRS.” Do not rely on caller ID to verify a caller’s identity.
• Do not succumb to pressure or threats. Scammers may grow increasingly hostile when you do not cooperate. They may threaten to send officers to arrest or deport you or to suspend your business or driver’s license. They may even send follow-up emails or calls from accomplices who claim to be from the local police or the Department of Motor Vehicles. These threats are illegitimate.
• Learn how to recognize a legitimate government communication. There are circumstances when a U.S. government official may legitimately contact you. If you called USCIS’s National Customer Service Center or contacted IRS customer service, an officer may return your call. You or your employer may receive a phone call, email, or in-person visit from an officer of the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit, which routinely investigates employment-based immigration petitions. If you are uncertain about the legitimacy of a call, text, email, or in-person visit, ask for verification. A legitimate government official will always be able to provide you with their name, official identification, and a functioning phone number. Use that information to check the officer’s identity; for instance, checking online that the phone number is associated with the government agency and then calling the officer back at that number may help to verify that they represent a government agency. If you are still unsure, politely tell the caller that you need additional information in order to verify the legitimacy of the call.

There are numerous websites posing as official government sites or claiming to provide immigration benefits with U.S. government authorization. Unless a website contains a “.gov” suffix, it is not an official government site.

• Visa Waiver Program websites. If you are planning business or pleasure travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and need to register in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), make sure to use U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s official ESTA website at https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta. Avoid websites that offer to submit ESTA applications for additional fees. These are not authorized by the U.S. government and may be fraudulent.
• Diversity Visa Lottery websites. If you are planning to enter the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (DV lottery) when the program opens for applications, make sure to use the official State Department website. Avoid commercial DV lottery websites that charge a fee. Be suspicious of any text message, email, or other communication claiming that you have won the lottery. The official lottery site is the only legitimate source to learn whether you have been selected in the lottery; the State Department does not contact winning lottery applicants by mail, email, text message, or other means.

• If you have already transferred funds or provided personal information, file a complaint with law enforcement and other appropriate authorities. Monitor your credit report and credit card accounts for suspicious activity.
• Inform your employer’s human resources or immigration representative and your Fragomen professional.
• Even if you have not transferred funds or provided personal information, contact the appropriate government agency to make a report; see below for contact details. If the individual purports to be from a local law enforcement authority, such as local or state police, report it to that authority.

Various government agencies offer guidance on how to protect yourself from common immigration-fraud schemes.

• USCIS offers detailed information on common immigration scams and how to report them.
• The IRS provides guidance on recognizing common tax scams and fake IRS communications.
• The U.S. Federal Trade Commission provides consumer protection information for victims of immigration fraud.
• The Department of State advises on common DV lottery scams.