Texas Tech University

Scams used Against International Students

US government agencies continue to see an increase of scams targeting unsuspecting international students. The trend was also featured in recent news articles. The best way to prevent scams is to be aware of them and how they work.

If you have been targeted by a scam, do not answer the phone or respond to any messages. Do not give away any of your personal information. Immediately contact your international student advisor for assistance and inform your family and friends.

Is it a Scam?

When you receive messages or phone calls that make you feel anxious or trapped, this is a sign that it's a scam. Scammers will often pressure you to quickly send money, gift cards, or provide your personal information. They may even use government or institutional agencies, names you may know from TTU, or government caller IDs.

Even if the scammer has some personal information about you, such as your immigration status, where you go to school, your work authorization status, or the caller ID is a government telephone number, it can still be a scam. There are ways for people to get information about you and to trick your caller ID.

It's a scam when the person...

  • Uses threats, intense language, or shouting
  • Demands quick action before you have a chance to think about it
  • Asks you to provide personal information (especially passwords, bank account information, or your SSN)
  • Demands any type of payment (including gift cards at local retail stores)
  • Demands that you don't speak to anyone about the situation, especially to your family or friends
  • Blackmails you to go away by yourself without informing anyone where you are
  • ...or demands you to do other suspicious activities or give away valuable information

I've been a victim! What do I do?

Hang up. Do not respond to any messages or phone calls. Contact your international advisor immediately and let your friends and family know what's going on. If the scammer continues to call or send messages, block the contact.

Report the scam. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission here. If you receive a suspicious email or voice message and are not sure if it's a scam, forward it to the USCIS Webmaster. They will review the messages and share with law enforcement agencies accordingly. You can also visit USCIS's Avoid Scams Initiative for more information on common scams and other important tips to prevent them.

Inform your friends and family. It's important to inform those we care about how to avoid dangerous situations, especially scams. Share this webpage and other resources included to ensure they will not become victims of a scam, too.

Types of Scams

Fake Government Calls

Most common scams come from callers who claim to be government officials, such as USCIS, CBP, ICE or DHS. They may even have a government caller ID, but be wary:

Government officials in the US or abroad will never make threatening calls, urgently demand money, or request things such as gift cards.

The IRS, for example, always contacts people first by regular mail.

When in doubt, assume that the threatening phone call, text or any kind of suspicious message from a government official is a scam. Investigate them. If you are unsure if it's a scam, ask for extensive contact and verification information before responding to their demands. If they refuse to provide you any information that you can use to confirm their identity, and they continue to threaten you, hang up and block the number. It's a scam.

When in doubt, you can also contact your international student advisor. They will always know if your visa status is still in good standing, and can learn whether or not you are encountering a scam.

Fake Goverment Websites

Scammer Image

Sometimes scammers will use nearly identical government websites to steal your personal information.

You can confirm whether the website is authentic if it ends with .gov such as:

The US Government will NEVER call you, they communicate with individuals through the US Mail system. If someone calls you claiming to be from a US Government department, hang up.

Cyber Kidnapping

Cyber (or virtual) kidnapping has many forms but it's always an extortion scheme. Cyber kidnappers trick people into paying a ransom to free a loved one they think is being theatened with violence or even death. However, cyber kidnappers don't actually kidnap anyone. Instead, they may use AI photos, AI voice phishing, and steal caller IDs to impersonate your family, or even you, to get a quick ransom before the sceme falls apart.

In January 2024, a foreign exchange student fell victim to cyber kidnapping

In January 2024, a foreign exchange student fell victim to cyber kidnapping

Seventeen-year-old exchange student from China, Kai Zhuang, went missing in January 2024 after receiving a phone call from cyber kidnappers that his family was in danger. The student was told to go into hiding to ensure his family's safety, so he hid in the mountains of Utah. The kidnappers monitored the student using video calls.

In the meantime, the kidnappers tricked his family into believing that Zhuang was kidnapped by using fake photos. The Riverdale Police found Zhuang alive and safe, and returned him to his family.

The police learned that Zhuang's family transferred $80,000 to US bank accounts as ransom for their son's safety, even though the student was never really kidnapped.

"The victims comply out of fear that their families will be harmed if they don’t comply with the cyber kidnappers. The cyber kidnappers continue to extort the family by using fear tactics, photos, and voice recordings of the victim leading the family to believe the kidnappers are with the victim causing them harm."

Riverdale Chief of Police, Casey Warren

Prevent Cyber Kidnapping & How to Report

First, be aware of the problem and do some research. Inform yourself and your family about how these scams work.

Second, create a safe word or keyphrase with your family for emergency situations--something that criminals could never know or impersonate.

Lastly, if this happens to you or someone you know, report the incident to your international student advisor and the campus police. If the scammers continue to contact you or your family, block the source and do not respond. Wait for guidance from your advisor and the campus police. You should also report to the Federal Trade Commission and USCIS Webmaster to prevent the scam from happening again to other students and their families.

FBI Cyber Kidnapping Reports

More Resources

International Affairs

© 2024  Texas Tech University Sep 26, 2024 2:46 PM