How to Identify International Student Scams: Part 1

Last year, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 3.2 million reports regarding scams, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $3.5 billion in victim losses.
Unfortunately, anyone can be the target for a scammer, including international students. To increase our collective awareness, we at LewerMark have developed a three-part series to describe known scams and their “red flags”—things you can look for that help identify a scam for what it is (click here for Part 2 ). In Part 3, we will provide advice on protecting yourself from, and reacting to, a scam.
Let’s begin with some well-known scams, so you know what to look out for:
 

Fake Government Call Scams

This scam preys on international students’ fears. Scammers know many international students may be in a financially difficult position due to the coronavirus pandemic. An international student will receive a call or an email from someone claiming to be from the federal government. The fake government person (the scammer) will say there is a problem with the student’s immigration status and threaten arrest or deportation. The scammer will demand immediate payment to correct the situation by depositing a check or cryptocurrency for a large sum of money.
If you receive a call or email like this, hang up the phone or save the email to report to the authorities, and talk to your international student advisor. Your fellow students likely received a similar call or email. If you are concerned about your visa status or immigration documentation, call the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at (800) 375-5283.
 

Red Flags: How You Can Tell It Is a Scam

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has developed an infographic and full blog post detailing how to spot these kinds of scams. Warning signals include:

• The request comes from someone you don’t know.
  No one trusts a stranger with their money.

• The scammer threatens the immediate payment to fix the problem or be arrested.
  The U.S. Government will not act like this, nor request payment.

• The scammer wants to send you money so you can send it back.
  There is no legitimate reason to send someone money only to have them send it back.

• The scammer wants you to complete a wire or electronic transfer.
  These methods of payment are entirely untraceable.

Illegal Chinese Passport Scheme

This scam targets explicitly international students from China. You will receive a phone call from individuals posing as Chinese government officials speaking in Mandarin. They will tell you that you’ve been connected to an illegal passport scheme led by a corrupt government official and that your economic status as a “poor student” provides your motive. In another version of the scam, they will say the student’s bank account has been compromised and being used for criminal activities. They will go on to tell you that, to prove your innocence, you must send them a copy of your passport and a refundable fee. Even if you ignore them, they may continue to call and threaten you, and may also allege that you must return to China and appear in court. They may even say not to contact friends and family because it will put them in danger as well.
These scammers are very savvy, as they spoof an actual government number and will share photos, documents, and badges supposedly proving they are government officials.
 

Red Flags:

• The scammer claims to be a government official.
  Officials from your home country will never call or email you. If anything is wrong, you will receive official paperwork.

• The scammer demands immediate payment.
  Neither U.S. agencies nor your home country’s government will call you requesting immediate payment (wire transfer, gift cards, etc.) of any kind.

• The caller demands wire transfers or gift cards.
  These methods of payment are entirely untraceable.

Census Scams

International students are required to be counted in the census, and, as the 2020 Census continues, you may receive mail, emails, calls, or even visits from those alleging to be official census personnel. And while some of these materials and contacts will be official, scammers will also take this opportunity to gather your personal information for identity fraud or to cheat you out of money by requesting fake fees or donations. If you are targeted via email, scammers may try to infect your computer with malware.
 

Red Flags:

The Census Bureau has provided in-depth resources on avoiding scams and how to verify the legitimacy of the mail, call, or visit you may receive as part of the 2020 Census. Here are some of the biggest red flags:

• You receive an email you did not request.
  The Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails requesting your participation.

• You are asked for too much personal information.
  The Census Bureau never asks for information like your full Social Security number or your mother’s maiden name.

• You are asked for money.
  The Census Bureau never asks for money or donations, for anything on behalf of a political party, or your full bank or credit card numbers.

• The envelope has the wrong address.
  Official mailings will include the “U.S. Census Bureau” or “U.S. Department of Commerce” as well as a Jeffersonville, IN return address.

• The supposed census taker or representative is unidentified.
  Official census workers will have an official I.D. badge, bag, and Census Bureau-issued electronic device, such as a laptop or smartphone, that bears the Census Bureau logo.

• The supposed census taker or representative visits at the wrong time.
  Official census workers only work between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., local time.

Key Takeaway

Scammers can make you feel scared or uneasy, push you to make a decision too quickly or demand that you part with money or personal information. The important thing to remember is to not react in the moment. Instead, take time to look for red flags that indicate you have been targeted by a scammer. If you are a target, don’t worry — you haven’t done anything wrong and are not in trouble. Simply report your experience to your advisor so they can alert other students to the scam.
In Part 2 of our series, we will look at additional scams and their red flags. In Part 3, we will discuss what you can do to protect yourself, and how to react if you happen to fall victim to a scam.