While this information is not meant to scare you, please review the information carefully to be aware there are many types of scams reported by students in the United States!

Update from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

ICE is receiving concerns about a recent SCAM where someone is posing as an ICE officer. Imposters posing as ICE officers or agents are attempting to elicit some form of payment in exchange for immigration benefits or other immigration services.

The current scam includes scammers using the SEVP Response Center (SRC) phone numbers (703-603-3400 and 800-892-4829) and claiming to be SRC representatives. The fraudulent callers are inquiring about Form I-94 documents and asking students to provide information regarding monetary transactions.

We are urging you to follow up with your international students to ensure they don’t fall victim to this dangerous scam. If you or one of your students encounter, or are a victim of this spoof call, you are encouraged to submit a Federal Trade Commission Complaint Form as soon as possible.

Things to remember:

• SEVP officials will NEVER ask stakeholders to provide credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• Report all suspicious calls online through the Federal Trade Commission Complaint Form 

In the past, ISS has received reports of international students at CCA and from other institutions receiving fraudulent phone calls where they have been asked for money from someone claiming to be from the US government (Immigration or the IRS) or a representative from the Diversity Visa Lottery. Be assured: US Immigration will NEVER call to ask you for money over the phone and the visa lottery has NO cost.

Remember to protect your identifying information such as your social security number and immigration documents (passport, visa, and I-20). This information should only be shared under very specific circumstances (examples: with ISS upon arrival, or an HR department for CCA on-campus or authorized off-campus job). Be cautious and contact ISS if you ever unsure, have questions, or need advice.

Some CCA students have been scammed using WeChat and other mobile payment platforms.

What you need to know:

• Scammers will offer discounts or good exchange rates if a CCA student pays their tuition through their service instead of directly to the school. Never agree to work with someone offering to do a currency exchange for a lower or equal exchange rate online.
• Scammers take the student's money and then pay their tuition with stolen credit cards. This is dangerous not only because student's tuition remains unpaid, but if paid with a stolen card it could become a legal problem.
• Student will still owe the same amount to the college, does not have the money anymore, and the scammers have the student's account information.

How to protect yourself:

• Protect your information! Do not give your CCA account information to anyone.
• TouchNet, the service CCA uses to process tuition payments, is international student friendly, can process international payments, and is not subject to the same international regulations as money transferred to personal accounts.
• Please pay your tuition DIRECTLY to CCA using our approved payment methods (TouchNet): Portal Guide on making a payment to your account.
• Important: If you think your CCA account has been compromised, contact the CCA HelpDesk immediately. CCA Technology Services also requires Duo two-factor authentication to protect your information.

If you receive a suspicious or email a call from someone asking for money, be cautious and do not hesitate to contact an ISS advisor before responding.

As always, If you have any questions or concerns, contact ISS for support or advice.

CCA is receiving reports of a scam in which callers are impersonating police officials from China and falsely telling the student they have been accused of a crime.  The scammers demand money and warn the student they must not tell anyone.   This version seems to have spread in the UK, Singapore, and Australia (where the callers pretend to be consulate officials), and in the US at colleges such as Boston University (link to Chinese translation of the Boston University alert).  The US Federal Trade Commission provides advice on spotting a scam.  

• If you receive such a call, do not share any personal information, end the call, block the caller. If you believe you have already been scammed, follow the steps on the San Francisco Police Department Financial Crimes website, and file a police report. If you need help filing a report, contact Abe Leal in CCA Public Safety during normal business hours.  You can also contact ISS for advice. 
• If the scammers have engaged in phishing by using what may appear initially to be a CCA email address, please report the incident to CCA HelpDesk
• If you get a scam call of any kind, please submit a Federal Trade Commission Complaint Form as soon as possible.
• It is normal to be upset by such an incident and to feel scared, nervous, guilty (even though you have done nothing wrong), or to have trouble concentrating, sleeping, or eating. Please reach out to our Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department for support via a "One Time Urgent" appointment if you experience these signs of upset.

Students have reported to ISS they have received phone calls about problems with their social security number. Please review the Social Security Administration scams warning information and be aware the SSA office typically uses mail, NOT phone calls to make contact. The SSA warning site shares following indicators to identify when call is a scam:

WARNING it is a scam when:

• A caller saying there is a problem with your Social Security number or account.
• Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.
• Scammers pretending they’re from Social Security Administration or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not.

If you receive a phone call about your social security number but have not requested the SSA office contact you, hang up immediately!

If you get a scam call of any kind, please report it to the Official US Government Scam Reporting Form as soon as possible.