The FBI has issued a warning about a scam targeting foreign students in the United States, particularly those from Middle Eastern countries, amid rising concerns about immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
According to the FBI alert, scammers are posing as federal officials and contacting students with valid visas, claiming there are issues with their immigration status. The scammers often impersonate officers from US government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Homeland Security Investigations.
“Criminal scammers impersonate US and foreign government officials claiming there is an issue with the student's immigration status and exploit this for financial gain,” the FBI stated. Students from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan have been among the primary targets so far.
The scam typically begins with a phone call that appears to come from a legitimate federal agency. Victims are told they have violated their F-1 student visa conditions or are facing another immigration-related problem. The scammers then pressure the students to pay for legal or immigration services, university registration fees, or to fix alleged visa violations. In some cases, they provide links to fake government websites designed to steal information or money.
The alert also mentions that scammers sometimes pose as officials from foreign governments, including diplomats from the UAE and Qatar. “In some instances, the scammers vary this scheme by presenting themselves as government officials from foreign countries, including UAE and Qatar. Diplomats from the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC, have been impersonated as well,” the FBI noted.
This scam comes at a time of heightened anxiety among international students following policy actions targeting foreign nationals, including attempts to cancel student visas and increased scrutiny over political views.
The FBI advises students who receive such calls to verify the caller’s identity by hanging up and contacting the relevant agency directly using independently verified contact information. Students should also be cautious when clicking on links and confirm that website domains are legitimate government addresses.
“If you believe you are the target of a government impersonation scam targeting foreign students, gather all relevant documentation and contact diplomatic security at your home country's embassy, the FBI, or Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the Department of State,” the alert mentions.
According to the FBI alert, scammers are posing as federal officials and contacting students with valid visas, claiming there are issues with their immigration status. The scammers often impersonate officers from US government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Homeland Security Investigations.
“Criminal scammers impersonate US and foreign government officials claiming there is an issue with the student's immigration status and exploit this for financial gain,” the FBI stated. Students from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan have been among the primary targets so far.
The scam typically begins with a phone call that appears to come from a legitimate federal agency. Victims are told they have violated their F-1 student visa conditions or are facing another immigration-related problem. The scammers then pressure the students to pay for legal or immigration services, university registration fees, or to fix alleged visa violations. In some cases, they provide links to fake government websites designed to steal information or money.
The alert also mentions that scammers sometimes pose as officials from foreign governments, including diplomats from the UAE and Qatar. “In some instances, the scammers vary this scheme by presenting themselves as government officials from foreign countries, including UAE and Qatar. Diplomats from the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC, have been impersonated as well,” the FBI noted.
This scam comes at a time of heightened anxiety among international students following policy actions targeting foreign nationals, including attempts to cancel student visas and increased scrutiny over political views.
The FBI advises students who receive such calls to verify the caller’s identity by hanging up and contacting the relevant agency directly using independently verified contact information. Students should also be cautious when clicking on links and confirm that website domains are legitimate government addresses.
“If you believe you are the target of a government impersonation scam targeting foreign students, gather all relevant documentation and contact diplomatic security at your home country's embassy, the FBI, or Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the Department of State,” the alert mentions.
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