U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is warning the public about a rise in scam phone calls from individuals posing as agency officials or affiliated programs, urging immigrants and applicants not to share sensitive information over the phone.
In a fraud alert, USCIS said it has received reports of unsolicited calls in which scammers claim to represent the agency or immigration-related programs such as SAVE. The callers may ask about a person’s immigration status or case, request personal or financial information, and use technology to make their phone numbers appear as if they are from government agencies.
The agency cautioned that such tactics, known as caller ID spoofing, are designed to gain trust and pressure individuals into providing confidential details or payments.
USCIS advised recipients of unexpected calls to avoid sharing any personal, financial, or immigration-related information and to be wary of callers who demand immediate action or threaten legal consequences.
Officials said individuals should hang up and contact USCIS through official channels if they have questions about their cases or immigration benefits.
While USCIS may contact individuals, employers or agencies in connection with programs such as SAVE or E-Verify, the agency emphasized that it does not request sensitive information or payments through unsolicited phone calls.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by an immigration-related scam is encouraged to report the incident through appropriate fraud reporting channels, USCIS said.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
