The scams built specifically for newcomers

Scammers know newcomers are vulnerable: you don't yet know what's normal in the US system, you fear anything that touches your immigration status, and you may be reluctant to contact authorities. Three types of scams are built around that psychology—imposter calls, fake job offers, and rental frauds—and they all follow the same payment trail. Learning to spot and block them before money changes hands is your strongest defense.

Imposter Calls: USCIS, IRS, Police

One of the most pervasive scams targeting newcomers is the fake government call. Scammers use a technique called caller ID spoofing to make their number look like it comes from USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), or local police. When you answer, the caller claims one of three things: you have unpaid taxes, your immigration paperwork has a problem, or there is a warrant for your arrest. They then demand you pay immediately—often within 24 hours—to avoid arrest, deportation, or license suspension.

The script always includes pressure. The caller may ask to stay on the line while you go to a store, may contact you by email afterward with fake documents, or may ask to meet you in person. All of this is designed to build false urgency and legitimacy. The caller may even suggest they are calling on behalf of multiple agencies at once.

What Real Government Agencies Never Do

• USCIS will never demand payment over the phone or by email. All official USCIS fees are paid only through your official myUSCIS account.
• The IRS does not initiate contact by phone to demand immediate payment. The IRS sends letters by mail first.
• Local police do not collect fines or fees by phone, gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• No legitimate government agency will ask for payment through a prepaid card, gift card, wire transfer, or any untraceable method.

If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from USCIS, the safest action is to hang up and call USCIS directly yourself using the official number 1-800-375-5283. You can also report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877-FTC-HELP or online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting a scam will not hurt your actual immigration case.

Fake Job Offers: The Deposit-and-Wire Scheme

Job scams target newcomers searching for income. They typically begin on job sites, LinkedIn, or direct email. The scammer posts a job that sounds ideal—remote work, flexible hours, good pay. The interview happens quickly through messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp, and a job offer arrives within minutes. So far, nothing feels wrong.

Then comes the deposit. The scammer claims you need to buy a laptop, software, or other equipment for the role. Instead of providing the equipment, they send you a check and ask you to deposit it into your own bank account, keep some money for the purchase, and wire the rest to a supplier—or deposit the full amount and wire some back to a supervisor.

Here is the trap. Banks make deposited funds available within one or two business days—but the check is counterfeit. It can take weeks for the bank to discover the fraud. By then, you have already wired the money to the scammer. When the bank realizes the check is fake, the deposit is reversed. You now owe the bank the full amount of the bad check, even if you did not know it was counterfeit. You may also face accusations of fraud, even though you were the victim.

Red Flags in Job Offers

• The company asks for an upfront payment of any kind before you start work.
• You are asked to deposit a check and wire money back, buy gift cards, or use cryptocurrency.
• The interview was unusually fast, or the job offer arrived too quickly.
• The company asks for sensitive information like your Social Security number early in the process.
• The job posting came through an ad, messaging app, or social media, not directly from the company's website.
• The employer asks you to buy money orders or office equipment and promises reimbursement later.

If you receive a suspicious job offer, verify the company directly. Go to the company's official website (not a link in the email) and call their main number. Ask if they are hiring for the role you were offered. Legitimate employers will not ask for upfront payments, will not use unverifiable payment methods, and will never ask you to pay before your first day of work.

Rental Scams: Fake Landlords, Real Money

Rental scams are especially dangerous for newcomers because finding housing is urgent and stressful. A scammer posts a fake rental listing, often on Craigslist, Facebook, or apartment sites. The listing may be stolen from a real property (with photos and details copied) or completely fabricated. The rent is suspiciously low, or the apartment is perfectly suited to your needs and available right now. When you express interest, the 'landlord' responds quickly.

The scammer then creates urgency. They claim to be overseas (in Europe, Africa, or on a mission) and cannot show the apartment. They say four other renters are interested and you must send a security deposit within 24 hours to hold the place. They ask you to wire money through Western Union, MoneyGram, or a payment app like Zelle. Sometimes they ask for gift cards or cryptocurrency. You send the money. The scammer disappears. The apartment either does not exist or is not theirs to rent.

The danger is compounded if you submitted a rental application first. You may have given the scammer your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number—information they can use for identity theft. Even if the money is lost, your personal data is now in a criminal's hands.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never send money for a security deposit, application fee, or first month's rent before you have visited the property in person.
• Never wire money, use gift cards, or pay by cryptocurrency for a rental. These methods are untraceable and irreversible.
• If a landlord claims to be overseas or unavailable, walk away. There is no legitimate reason a landlord cannot arrange a video tour or in-person showing.
• Verify the property by checking public records or calling the leasing office directly. Use the phone number from the official property website, not from the ad.
• Confirm the landlord's identity. Ask for a copy of their ID and proof that they own or manage the property.
• Reverse image search the photos in the listing using Google Images. Scammers often steal photos from other listings.
• Compare the rent to nearby apartments. If the price is much lower, it may be a scam.

Pay deposits and rent by check or credit card whenever possible. These methods offer some protection and can be disputed. Always get a signed lease before handing over money.

The Payment Method Is the Tell

Across all three scams—imposter calls, job offers, and rental fraud—scammers demand payment by the same untraceable methods. They will ask for gift cards (Google Play, iTunes, Amazon, Walmart, Target), wire transfers, cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ether), or money sent via Western Union or MoneyGram. They never accept credit cards, checks, or ACH transfers from your bank. Why? Because those methods can be reversed or traced. Gift cards, wire transfers, and crypto cannot.

Once you share a gift card code or PIN over the phone, the scammer can drain the balance in moments. Once you wire money, the bank almost never reverses it. Cryptocurrency transactions are anonymous and final. This is why scammers insist on these methods. The payment method itself is often the strongest warning sign of fraud.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed

If you have already sent money to a scammer, act fast. If you used a gift card, contact the retailer immediately and report it as fraud. If you used a wire transfer, contact your bank within the first few hours—some transfers can be stopped if you act quickly. If you used cryptocurrency, the transaction is almost certainly irreversible, but report it to the Federal Trade Commission anyway.

Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP. You can also report in Spanish at ReporteFraude.ftc.gov or call 877-382-4357 and press 3 for an interpreter. Reporting a scam is free, does not require a lawyer, and will not hurt your immigration status. The FTC uses these reports to investigate scammers and warn other people.

If the scam involved a fake job offer and you deposited a bad check, contact your bank's fraud department immediately. Provide all the information you have about the fraudulent employer and the check. If the scam involved a fake rental and you gave your Social Security number, place a fraud alert on your credit by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). This makes it harder for someone to open accounts in your name.

Additional Scams Targeting Newcomers

Beyond the three main scams, newcomers also face fraud from fake immigration consultants and notarios (notaries or notarios públicos). In the United States, a notario is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice or file immigration forms on your behalf. Yet many unlicensed notarios prey on Spanish speakers and immigrants with limited English, promising to file paperwork or guarantee a green card, work permit, or visa. They take large fees, file nothing, and disappear. Or they file forms incorrectly, which damages your case.

Official immigration forms from USCIS are free. Anyone who charges you for them is a scammer. Real immigration help comes from accredited representatives, lawyers, or free organizations. To find legitimate immigration help, visit ftc.gov/immigration or call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.

Scammers also pose as immigration lawyers on social media. They promise to help you with a work permit, green card, or visa if you pay them money via Western Union or Zelle. They may even arrange fake Zoom meetings with someone in a USCIS-like uniform to look legitimate. Remember: USCIS schedules real appointments by mail or through your MyUSCIS account, never through Messenger, WhatsApp, or Zoom. Real lawyers do not recruit clients through social media comments.

How to Stay Safe

• Do not give personal information (name, date of birth, Social Security number, address) to anyone who contacts you first, whether by phone, email, or social media.
• If someone claims to be from a government agency, hang up and call the agency directly using a number you find yourself (not one they provide).
• Never agree to send money for a job, apartment, or government service if you cannot first verify the offer in person or through an official channel.
• Be wary of urgency. Scammers pressure you to decide and pay within hours or days. Real employers, landlords, and government agencies give you time.
• Trust your instinct. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Hesitate, ask questions, and wait.
• Use secure payment methods (credit card, bank check, official company account). Avoid gift cards, wire transfers, and cash for any large transaction.
• Ask trusted friends, family, or community leaders before giving money or sensitive information to anyone new.
• If English is not your first language, bring a trusted friend or family member when signing documents or during important phone calls, especially about money or immigration.