IMPORTANT Alert on SEVP Telephone Scam

Greetings, international students!

I hope you have had a good start to your summer!

I wanted to alert you to a message from the United States Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) about a telephone scam targeting international students, especially those currently in the U.S. who have an active I-20.

Here is what SEVP shared with our International Student Services team:

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has been made aware of a spoofing scam involving individuals using an SEVP Response Center (SRC) phone number (703-603-3400) or a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office phone number (757-441-6533) to target nonimmigrant students. Fraudulent callers are claiming to be SEVP representatives and asking students to provide their immigration information, such as their Alien Registration Number or Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” information, or face deportation.

If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. You’re also encouraged to report the incident to the online Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) ICE Tip Form.

Finally, SEVP offers this general guidance on responding to any suspicious calls you might receive:

• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• SEVP officials will NEVER ask students and other stakeholders to provide credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
• Report all suspicious calls to the online HSI ICE Tip Form. Also, if you are unsure about the validity of a call from SEVP officials, you can also reach out to your designated SEVP field representative.

Please also feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter.

Best regards,

Christian Stuart
Executive Director
Center for On-Campus International Student Services
College of Education & International Services