US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) has issued a warning about a visa scam targeting international students.
ICE says that the scam involves the following steps:
•The scammer says they are a federal law enforcement officer, employee or contractor of ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
•The scammer will demand money, sexual favors, or merchandise from you claiming to be able to help you get an immigration benefit, legal status, or documents.
•The promised benefit or service is never received.
The ICE warning explains that legitimate government officers will never:
•Offer lawful immigration status or other immigration services to an international student in exchange for money, sexual favors, or gifts
•Use the internet or telephone to contact an international student to offer immigration services in exchange for payment through pre-paid cash cards like GreenDot or services like Western Union and MoneyGram.
•Ask you or any international student for payment of any kind.
The ICE visa scam warning was picked up and re-shared by several US colleges, including:
•University of Colorado Bolder
•Johns Hopkins •Columbia University
•Duke University
Source: Studyguard.net