While you are studying in the United States, take steps to protect yourself from scams that target international students.

Scammers often try to impersonate government officials to intimidate you into giving them your personal information or money.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will never ask you to transfer money to an individual. In addition, you will never be asked to pay fees via phone or by email.

If you receive a threatening call or message from someone claiming to be a government or law enforcement official, you should:

• Not give the person any personal or financial information. 
• Collect the caller’s contact information.
• End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist. 
• Contact your designated school official and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line. 

For examples of common scams and tips to avoid them, visit USCIS’ Common Scams page.