News

Fraud Advisory: Scammers Using SEVP and HSI Phone Numbers to Target International Students

The following message was sent to all students with an F-1 or J-1 student record on June 3, 2021.

The Office of International Services (OIS) has learned that 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 encounter or are a victim of this spoof call, you are encouraged to report the incident to the HSI tip line. We also ask that you notify OIS at [email protected] and provide as much detail as possible about the call, as we enlist the support of JHU Security, when needed.

Tips and items to remember:

• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• SEVP officials will NEVER ask 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 HSI tip line and if you are unsure about the validity of a call from SEVP officials.
• You are always free to let such calls go to your voicemail and then share that with OIS; we can help you determine whether the call is a legitimate request (very rare) or a scam. Err on the side of safety!

You may find additional information on Scams on the OIS website here.