Scam alert: USCIS AR-11 phone call and email
Scams
The USCIS AR-11 scam is an ongoing fraud attempt targeting international students and scholars in the U.S. While the language used by scammers may evolve slightly, the core tactics remain the same.Ìý
If you receive a threatening call, do not provide any personal information. Scammers use sophisticated methods and scare tactics, but no legitimate agency will contact you to threaten deportation or demand personal information.
What to Do if You Receive a Scam Call or Message
If you receive a threatening call or message from someone claiming to be a U.S., state, or local government or law enforcement official, do not provide any personal or financial information and end the conversation immediately. You can then contact ISSS for additional support.
The AR-11 Scam
Several students have reported receiving scam phone calls from a number that is listed as USCIS (the caller information displayed is ). On the phone, students are told they have not completed the AR-11 Change of Address form. The scammers then threaten immediate deportation unless the student provides personal information, including photos of their immigration documents, contact details, bank account information, and sometimes even their social security number.
The scammer often follows up by sending a fraudulent email, which appears to be from USCIS,  threatening visa cancellation and immediate deportation. This email may reference mass deportation plans under the Trump Administration. While the email appears to come from iceprivacy@ice.dhs.gov, you can see the email address used was icegovinfo@gmail.com.Ìý
This is a scam!
Scammers may attempt to intimidate you by urging you not to hang up the phone, but this is a common tactic to manipulate you into staying on the phone. Even if the scammers know some details about you, remember that legitimate government agents, immigration officials, and university officials will never ask for personal information over the phone. They will also never threaten arrest or deportation, nor will they ever tell you that you cannot contact the ISSS office for help.
If you experience a scam, ISSS encourages you to report the scam to the local police in addition to any of the following offices:
- Â (if applicable)
- Â (if applicable)
If you released any information to a scam caller, contact the following on-campus offices to seek additional support or assistance:
You can read about other common scams on theÂ
For More Information About Scams
- Check out our previous ISSS article on AR-11 scams and the ISSS Protect Yourself from Scams webpage for additional resources and tips.