Scam Updates
SCAM REPORTS
scam noun \ ˈskam \
Definition of scam: a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation
(from Merriam-Webster.com)
We have heard and read reports of attempted scam phone calls and hope that by alerting you of what these are like, you can avoid an unfortunate situation. If you receive a phone call from an individual posing as a police officer or other government official, telling you that you may be in jeopardy of losing your immigration status, or you are owing taxes or threatening you in any way it is a scam – fraud -- hang up or disconnect the call and please contact our office immediately (isss@wku.edu or 270-745-4857). Do not give the caller any personal information, in fact, hang up as quickly as possible. Also, please notify the WKU Police Department. Please know that we are here to assist you.
Our government officials do not call to demand payment of any fines.
For more information about common scams, please visit: https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/common-scams
RECENT REPORTS:
Broadcast Message: Fraud Advisory – Scammers Using SEVP Phone Numbers to Target International Students
To: All SEVIS Users
Date: Dec. 9, 2020
Number: 2012 – 02
General Information
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has been made aware of a spoofing scam involving individuals using the SEVP Response Center (SRC) phone numbers (703-603-3400 and 800-892-4829) and claiming to be SRC representatives. The fraudulent callers are inquiring about Form I-94 documents and asking students to provide information regarding monetary transactions.
We are urging you to follow up with your international students to ensure they don’t fall victim to this dangerous scam. If you or one of your students encounter, or are a victim of this spoof call, you are encouraged to report the incident to the HSI tip line. If you are unsure about the validity of a call from an SEVP official, you can also reach out to your designated SEVP field representative.
Things to remember:
- SEVP officials will NEVER ask stakeholders to provide credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
- NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
- Report all suspicious calls to the HSI tip line and if you are unsure about the validity of a call from SEVP officials reach out to your designated SEVP field representative.
If you have any additional questions regarding this matter, please contact the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400 or 800 892 4829, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, except federal holidays.
Disclaimer
The Broadcast Message is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it itself a rule or a final action by SEVP. It is not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any administrative, civil, or criminal matter.
There have been reports of an email advertising an opening at a legitimate US company. Students have applied and been offered a position including an offer letter (with great salary and benefits) after the student completed and submitted an application questionnaire. The offer noted that the student would be responsible for their own visa process and offered to connect them with a visa consultant that could help him with the process. Messaging from the company to the student included the following text message: "Due to the ongoing infrastructural development going on at Byers Engineering Company, USA, management hereby inform public that company is currently recruiting/employing both construction, Engineering, Oil and Gas workforce. Interested candidates should send their updated Resumes/CV and Letter of Application Specifying position of interest (Attachment in MS Word Format Or PDF format) to Head of Human Resources Department."
If you are ever in doubt of a job opportunity, please feel welcome to bring the information to our office and we will help you determine if it's legitiamte or not. You can always email isss@wku.edu and we are here to help!
There have been repots of students receiving calls from people posing as USCIS officials. It seems that they are careful to get a lot of information about students from various social media. They may know the names of your relatives and friends, they may know what kind of transportation you take, what your travel plans have been recently, anything they can gather from Facebook or Instagram. This does not prove that they are government officials. Again -- Our government officials do not call your cell phone number to demand payment of any kind.
Some of these calls are convincing and sophisticated. In some cases, they may transfer your call between various “supervisors” and “border patrol” and “attorney” or “lawyers.” They may threaten that officers are on the way to deport you. They may know the location of your apartment or house and what things are in the neighborhood close to your home. They will often fix the incoming phone number on your caller ID to match that of actual government offices. These are all tricks to convince you that they are actually USCIS or other law enforcement of government agencies. They aren’t, and you should hang up.
Scammers will commonly want you to buy gift cards to pay the fake “fine,””fee,” or “tax.” Don’t do it.
We have received reports on students receiving phone calls from what appears to be a Social Security Administration. The caller will inform you that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been compromised with credit cards and that you have to pay a "bond" to secure the account. To pay the bond, they will instruct you to purchase gift cards with a specific amount.
If you receive an anonymous call/email from a Social Security office do not give out your personal information. Social Security may contact you by phone/email but they will have your information in their records and will never ask for it. Always make sure you request a name of the person contacting you and verify them by calling your local Social Security office, or 1-800-772-1213, Social Security Account's toll-free customer service number. For more information on how to protect your Social Security, visit this link: https://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/scam-awareness
Please feel free to contact our office (isss@wku.edu or 270-745-4857) and with any questions or concerns you may have. We are here to help you achieve your educational goals and dreams.
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Washington, DC, USA E-Visa Announcement.
This is to inform all the Nigerian Passport holders that following the demise of over
55,000 Americans who died from COVID 19, President Donald Trump has informed our mission
here in America that the United States of American shall grant 5,000 Nigerians free
work visa for two years. This was communicated to our Mission during the Presidential
Task Force Briefing on Covid 19 and economic reform via the Deputy Head of Mission
Dr. J. B. Adams, in Washington DC, on Friday 24th day of April, 2020.
The Embassies of the various missions in America has been entrusted with the duty.
Nigerian Nationals interested in the American Visa are requested to follow these guidelines:
1. Must possess a valid Passport issued by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The bio-data
page of the passport must be sent to the official email of the Embassy of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria Washington, DC at: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org.
2. You must not write any notes or attach any other credentials while sending your
passport biodata page. No introduction is required. Therefore, only your passport
must be submitted via our official email info@nigeriaembassyusa.org and not through any other medium.
3. Those who have been denied American visas in the past are required to participate
actively by sending their Passport biodata page to info@nigeriaembassyusa.org. To better help them, they are also advised to call the embassy with a clear explanation
of their previous visa denial experience via the following:
Tel:+1 206-430-1254
Phone:+1 202-516-4277
Fax:+120-775-1383.
4. No visa application fee is required. And applicant must be within 35 to 55 years
of age. There must not be any written application stressing one’s religious or political
affiliations. This will receive an immediate sanction. There must be no additional
message via the email intending to incite or remind the embassy of your passport.
5. Those carefully selected shall be officially contacted by the American Homeland
Security and will be advised further on their traveling arrangements and accommodation.
6. Relatives of the prospective visa applicants who are based in America or Canada
are not permitted to contact the embassy on behalf of their loved ones. This will
attract an immediate sanction.
7. Health and professional workers are encouraged to utilize this opportunity. We
advise you to contact the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Washington DC,
immediately after sending your passport biodata page for further advice via the following:
Tel:+1 206-430-1254
Phone:+1 202-516-4277
Fax:+120-775-1383
8. Deadline: 15th of May, 2020. Selected persons must be compulsorily quarantined
by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a period of 2 weeks before
departure to the United States of America. Upon arrival, they must also be isolated
for a period of 1 week in America before any other business.
For more information, call the following numbers for assistance.
Tel:+1 206-430-1254
Phone:+1 202-516-4277
Fax:+120-775-1383
Signed:
Ambassador Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor
Head of Mission.
(Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
3519 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel:+1 206-430-1254
Tel: (202) 800 7201 (Ext.113)
Email: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org)
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