Scams are unfortunately becoming increasingly sophisticated and common in the United States. Be aware of scammers posing as government/immigration/law enforcement officials requesting payment or personal information. Some scammers will manipulate caller ID technology so that it appears they are calling from a legitimate office or agency (e.g., FBI, IRS, USCIS, DHS, ICE, police). This is called spoofing. Scammers may also use personal information they legally or illegally obtained about students to scare individuals into providing immediate payment or information. Be careful about what personal information you share on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn etc.). Also be wary of of employment opportunities presented in suspicious emails, especially if you did not pursue the opportunity.
Tips to Avoid Scams
In many instances, scammers will:
- Claim they are from a U.S. agency or law enforcement.
- Provide some pieces of your directory or confidential information (e.g., passport number, SSN, employer) to try to convince you they are legitimate Identify false problems with your immigration record, work authorization, taxes etc.
- Threaten deportation or arrest.
- Tell you not to tell anyone since you have a legal issue.
- Ask for an immediate payment to correct the issue.
- Encourage you not to get off the phone until the payment has been received.
If you receive a threatening call or message from someone claiming to be a government or law enforcement official:
- Do not give the person any personal or financial information.
- Try to collect contact information from the caller.
- End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist.
- Contact ISSS and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line.
Be aware of these common scam techniques:
- Requests for payment by gift cards: No reputable business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card.
- Phishing: Scammers use phishing by sending an email or text that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company or from an online payment website or app. While real companies might communicate with you by email, legitimate companies won’t email or text with a link to update your payment information.
- Spoofing: Some scammers will manipulate caller ID technology so that it appears they are calling from a legitimate office or agency (e.g., FBI, IRS, USCIS, DHS, ICE, police). This is called spoofing.
- Intimidation: Scammers will try to scare and threaten you. They may threaten legal action such as arrest or deportation.
- Creating a crisis or a sense of urgency: Scammers are experts at convincing their target that this is an urgent and important situation. They try to convince you that they are in trouble, that they must act now to avoid arrest, deportation, or a higher fine. They say that you need to send payment or a deposit immediately for something important like an apartment, car, or laptop.
- Request for personal information: Be very suspicious when someone calls or e-mails you and asks for any personal or financial information such as your address, passport number, social security number, bank or credit account information, passwords, etc.
Reporting Scams
In addition to reporting a scam to the local police department, our ISSS office, and the Office of Information Technology at CU Boulder, you can also report a scam to the following offices:
- Federal Trade Commission
- Colorado Attorney General’s Office
- Reporting Immigration Scams Outside of Colorado
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Tip Line (if applicable)
- Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line (if applicable)
What To Do if You Paid a Scammer
No matter how you paid — debit or credit card, mobile payment app or wire transfer, gift card, cash reload card, or cryptocurrency — immediately contact the company you used to send the money, report the fraud, and ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible. For specific advice on how to reverse different types of payments, read What To Do If You Were Scammed.
If you are the target of a scam, you may want to contact the following on-campus offices to seek additional support or assistance:
Scam Alerts
Job scams
