The New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is alerting United States visa applicants to be aware of phone calls from individuals posing as immigration officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These individuals may demand to know your personal information (such as your passport number, I-94 number, “A” number, or visa control number) or claim that a new fee for visa applications has been established.
For this scam, the actual phone number of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services may register on the caller ID screen. The caller may already know your name and address and have knowledge of the type of visa you applied for. The individual may threaten to deny your application if you fail to comply.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection warns consumers to be wary of phone calls requesting money or personal information.
To prevent falling victim to this type of scam, please take note of the following tips:
- Beware of callers who want your money fast or use high-pressured tactics. Ask the caller to send you written materials.
- If you suspect the caller is attempting to commit fraud, hang up the phone.
- Contact organizations or institutions to verify claims made in unsolicited phone calls or e-mails by calling the number provided on official company statements.
- Act immediately if you provided personal identifiable information to unknown or unverified parties by notifying the companies with whom you have the accounts and by placing a security freeze or fraud alert on your files at credit reporting agencies.
If you receive a phone call from an individual claiming to work for the USCIS, you may call 1-800-375-5283 to inform the real USCIS to determine whether the call was legitimate.