It’s come to our attention that many people are receiving scam calls from people or organizations claiming to be the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the ICE immigration office or other federal immigration agencies. While scam calls targeting immigrants and non-citizen residents are not new, their volume has increased due to the atmosphere created by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. These scam calls do not represent any government immigration agency and do not have any ability to impact an individual’s legal status.
The USCIS has provided a guide on how to recognize and deal with these scammers. While scam calls may impersonate any kind of government agency, if they ask for money it is almost certainly a scam. No U.S. immigration agency has the authority to demand money over the phone. Additionally, scam calls will usually ask the money to be provided via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Immigration agencies never accept payments through these methods.
Scam calls targeting Spanish speakers may claim to be a “notario público” or a notary public. They may claim to offer immigration services or counsel, which is not legal in the United States. Notary publics in the U.S. can only serve as witnesses to the signing of important documents, nothing more.
Should you receive a scam call, it’s important to hang up the moment you have any suspicions. Never give the caller money or any kind of personal information. After hanging up, immediately notify the Federal Trade Commission of potential fraud online.
Should you have any more questions or concerns, guides on how to recognize and report these kinds of scam calls are on the USCIS and FTC website. We also recommend learning the differences between the legal traditions of the U.S. and your country of origin to make spotting scam calls easier. Finally, we highly recommend contacting immigration law professionals to protect your status at all times.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.
