{"id":2281,"date":"2016-06-10T12:31:37","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T19:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dps.usc.edu\/?page_id=2281"},"modified":"2026-04-20T10:33:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:33:06","slug":"be-aware-of-scams","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dps.usc.edu\/safety-tips\/be-aware-of-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Aware of Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Be Aware of Scams<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Scammers (thieves trying to trick victims) are targeting international students in Southern California. Scammers posing as local police officers, agents of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), travel companies, apartment leasing companies, and immigration agencies – such as the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Embassies abroad are contacting students and demanding money and personal information<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Phone Calls and Emails <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Never provide personal information or money to anyone who has contacted you by phone, email or social media claiming you have violated your immigration status or owe taxes and must transfer money through Western Union (or other companies), or purchase gift cards, in order to rectify your immigration status. In many cases, callers will use a technique to mask their true caller ID with another government listed phone number or number of a private institution like a bank. If you are unsure about who is calling, tell the individual that you are busy and write down the caller\u2019s name and phone number. If the caller refuses, hang up. Government agencies do not request payment over the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In-Person Encounters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Avoid making cash transactions with strangers. Most scams occur when a stranger approach you with either a sad story or a business offer. These individuals seek to gain money from you in exchange for something that may not be true. Some scammers will ask for payment in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. If you do not know the person requesting a cash transaction, DPS recommends that you ask a DPS officer to witness the transaction or<\/strong> ask the person to meet with you at the DPS station<\/strong> to make the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are contacted by such persons, do not reveal any personal information. Ask for their contact information, and report the incident to the USC Department of Public Safety<\/a> and or your local law enforcement agency immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beware of Tax Scams!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do not fall victim to scammers who call and say they are with the Internal Revenue Service<\/a> (IRS)! More and more phone scams have been happening in which people will call and threaten you with police arrest or deportation if you do not pay them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please be advised, even if you do owe taxes…<\/p>\n\n\n\n