We have been notified of various scams targeting F1 international students. These scams are usually attempted via phone call, but you may also be contacted by email, in-person at your residence, on social media, or through the mail.
Please review the following USCIS resources related to scams targeting nonimmigrants in the US:
- To learn about common immigration scams, some of which specifically target international students: Common Scams | USCIS
- To learn more about how to protect yourself from scams: Avoid Scams | USCIS
Please also review the following support articles related to IT security:
- Identify Phishing 101
- Smishing (SMS Text Fraud)
- ATP Safe Links
- Office 365 Users Targeted by Voicemail Scam Pages
General tips:
- Scammers tend to use scare tactics to demand payment from you. This may include threats related to your immigration status.
- Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency. For example, they may insist that you make a payment immediately to avoid deportation or other negative consequences.
- Scammers may use blackmailing as a tactic. Blackmailing is defined as demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.
- Be sure to verify the identity of the person you are speaking with and the validity of the information before taking any action.
If the International Student Office needs to contact you about your SEVIS record or other immigration matters, we will communicate via our isohelp@harrisburgu.edu email (and send to your Harrisburg University email address). If we need to speak to you urgently, we may contact you by phone. If we contact you by phone, Harrisburg University staff will never:
- Ask for your personal information such as your Social Security number or bank details.
- Ask you for payment over the phone.
- Threaten to report you to government officials.
Government officials, such as those from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), may call you regarding your F1 status. However, they will not ask for payment over the phone.
All emails from Harrisburg University staff will be sent from an official Harrisburg University email address, ending in @harrisburgu.edu. To verify contact information for HU departments, please visit the following page: Contact Us
Steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Never share personal information with someone over the phone, unless you can definitively verify their identity.
- If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from Harrisburg University, please hang up and call us directly.
- Harrisburg University staff and U.S. government officials will never contact you via social media accounts (such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp etc.).
- Be aware of and consider limiting the personal information that you are publishing online.
- Do not hesitate to contact the International Student Office or other Harrisburg University departments if you suspect you are being scammed or blackmailed, even if someone is making threats related to your academic standing at Harrisburg University or your F1 visa status. We are committed to supporting our students and will work with you to resolve the issue.
How to report scams and fraud:
- If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to USCIS at USCIS.Webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov. They will review the message and take action as needed.
- If you receive a suspicious email on your Harrisburg University student email, please report it to the IT team for review: How to report suspicious emails
- If you would like to report a scam or fraud: