Safety Reminders
Our office wants to make sure that your educational journey in the U.S. is safe and healthy, allowing you the space to learn and grow. That's why this week we're focusing on some important safety reminders for international students. As always, please
reach out to our office if you have any questions or concerns.
Tips for Recognizing Fraud and Scams
International students and visitors can be targets of crimes because they are less familiar with the area. These incidents are random, and with some knowledge and awareness, can often be avoided. A scam is when a person or persons try to get you to give money under false pretenses (a lie). It can also be called fraud. The most common scams include someone claiming to be from:
- A U.S. law enforcement or other U.S. agency (police, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, etc.)
- The IRS (U.S. tax department)
- A company offering a job
- A company offers a job and requests you purchase items (including gift cards) using your own money
- Anyone you don’t know asking for you to buy gift cards (gift cards are used in scams because they don’t require identification)
- A person offering an apartment or housing
- Someone on social media you do not know (including WeChat, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
If you ever have any questions or concerns about the communication you receive, get the caller’s name and contact details, then call or email ISSS. We can assist students in identifying potential scams and responding to any legitimate communication from a U.S. government official.
