Scams

Protect yourself by learning about scams that may affect international students.

SCAM acronym for Scare, Contact, Act Now, Money to illustrate scammer tactics.

On this page:

Avoid Scams with UB Guardian

The free safety-enhancing UB Guardian App allows you to:

  • text directly with UB police to determine if a caller/texter is a scammer before giving personal details or sending money 
  • easily access emergency phone and online resources
  • send out an emergency call to UB police
  • more!

Use it to keep your money and ID safe from scammers.

What to do if You've Been Scammed

If you think you fell victim for a scam:

  • Protect yourself by stopping any further communication.
  • Change any passwords on accounts that were involved in the scam.
  • Contact any financial institutions involved.
  • Make a report to your local law enforcement agency.  If you are a member of the UB community, contact University Police.
  • File a complaint at the (IC3, also linked below in the Resources section). The criminal may threaten you or use your identity for another scam.
    • Check the Resources section below for links to report other types of scams with USCIS, the Federal Trade Commission, and others.

Immigration, Tax, & Government Scams

Scam Targets Chinese Students

The FBI Seattle Field Office has warned about phone scams targeting Chinese international students.

Several students have lost tens of thousands of dollars to scammers posing as officials from Chinese consulates or U.S. immigration agencies. These callers use fake numbers to appear legitimate.

Typical scam pattern:

  • Caller claims to be from a government agency.
  • Says the student is linked to serious crimes.
  • Demands money for fines or investigation.

If you get a call like this, hang up. Don’t share personal info or send money. Report the scam to ISS (iss@buffalo.edu) and the police.

Phone scam calls can come from people claiming to work for the US government. The callers can use fake caller ID information so it appears they are calling from a US government agency phone number. These calls often involved a request for students to provide personal financial information, including credit or debit card numbers, or for students to purchase gift cards. 

US government agencies like the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Department of State, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would never ask for your bank information or immediate payment over the phone.  

The USCIS has a list of . The IRS also publishes tips each year on . We recommend you read their information and prepare yourself to more easily spot a scam! 

If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the USCIS, forward it to the USCIS directly at USCIS.Webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov before responding. 

Looking for an example?

Scams can come by phone, email, and text. Here are some examples:

Scam DMV texts with URL to click on.

Unsolicited text offers or updates are most often scams.

I-901 SEVIS Fee Scams

Any student with an initial SEVIS record must submit their I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee payment through . This is the only website certified to collect the I-901 SEVIS Fee.

Unfortunately there are other websites that claim to collect I-901 SEVIS Fee payments. Anyone can report fraudulent I-901 SEVIS Fees through the official ICE . Learn more on .

Employment Scams

Illegal Courier Scam Targeting International Students

The FBI’s Boston Field Office, along with the Office of Private Sector, issued a warning that scammers are targeting international students to unknowingly help move illegal cash and gold.

The scammers promise easy, fast money for picking up and delivering packages. The students often don’t realize they’re involved in a crime. They’re paid per delivery and sometimes promised legal help if they get caught. They may travel far, even by plane, to pick up money from scam victims.

However, being part of these scams—knowingly or not—can lead to serious consequences, including arrest, legal charges, and deportation.

  • DO NOT respond to text/voice messages from strangers on messaging apps offering easy or fast money..
  • REPORT the scam attempt to ISS (iss@buffalo.edu) and the police. 

Many employment scams begin with an unsolicited job advertisement, often to a student's UB email account, about a new job opportunity. After being hired, the student is sent a counterfeit check that they are instructed to deposit in their bank account. They are then told to use those funds to pay for equipment that is necessary for the job. By the time the bank discovers the check you received was fake, you have already paid for the equipment, which never arrives. 

Looking for an example?

Scam job offers come in all shapes and sizes! See two different examples below.

Example Employment Scam
Scam emailed job offer for part-time administrative assistant sent to a UB email.

Unsolicited email job offers are most often scams.

These are just two examples of employment scams. There are others out there as well. The FTC has detailed information on .

Online Scams

Online scams may offer employment or ask you to do certain tasks as bait in order to steal money or your identity.  These scams often appear to come from someone you know or trust. To learn more about what they look like and what to do if you see one visit . 

You can find examples of IT-related threats to the UB community . Take a look, learn to spot a threat and be prepared for any future phishing attempts. 

Be sure to keep your devices and information safe. UB IT has helpful tips and resources available for everyone in the UB community. 

Resources

Stay Informed

Sign-up for free scam alerts at . 

    • Information also available in PDFs in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, & Vietnamese
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