International Education Blog

A weekly blog with the objective to keep the international student community informed of events on campus and immigration policies as well as university rules and professional advice.

For questions, please contact Chris Olagunju at colagunj@nyit.edu or 212.261.1684.

More Resources

SEVIS Tip #2: Scam Alert

Mar 13, 2019

DHS OIG Hotline Telephone Number Used in Scam to Obtain Personal Information

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General
(OIG) issued a fraud alert on April 19, 2017, to warn the public about a scam
using the DHS OIG hotline telephone number. Scammers have identified
themselves as “U.S. Immigration” employees and have altered their caller ID
to seem like the call is coming from the DHS OIG hotline (1-800-323-8603).
They then demand that the individual provide or verify personally
identifiable information, often by telling individuals that they are victims
of identity theft.

Read the DHS OIG fraud alert for more details.

If a Scammer Calls You

If you receive a call demanding personal information or payment, hang
up immediately. If you want to verify whether a call is from USCIS,
you may:

  • Call our National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 to ask if you need to do anything about your case or immigration status,
  • Make an InfoPass appointment at http://infopass.uscis.gov,
  • or
  • Use myUSCIS to find up-to-date information about your application.

Remember, USCIS officials will never threaten you or ask for
payment over the phone or in an email. If we need payment, we will
mail a letter on official stationery requesting payment. Do not give payment
over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official. In general, we
encourage you to protect your personal information and not to provide details
about your immigration application in any public area.

How to Report a Call from a Scammer

If you receive a scam email or phone call, report it to the Federal Trade
Commission at http://1.usa.gov/1suOHSS.
If you are not sure if it is a scam, forward the suspicious email to the
USCIS webmaster at uscis.webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov.
USCIS will review the emails received and share with law enforcement agencies
as appropriate.

Visit the Avoid Scams Initiative at www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams
for more information on common scams and other important tips.