Foreign nationals are advised to be aware of a reported fraud scheme that is currently being perpetrated in the United States.
Individuals purporting to be officers of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are reportedly telephoning foreign nationals to falsely claim a discrepancy or problem in such individuals’ immigration records and pressure victims to pay a “penalty” to rectify the issue. Victims are told to wire funds to an address the caller provides.
The perpetrators may possess personal information about the victim and may ask victims to provide or confirm immigration information, including an I-94 number, an alien registration number or a visa control number.
Foreign nationals who receive such calls should not forward any funds as instructed by the caller or disclose any personal information. Those targeted by the scheme should contact law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection, and an attorney.