Convenience is king in the digital economy.
With the click of a button, consumers can contact businesses, make online purchases, and send money almost anywhere in the world.
Unfortunately, scammers move just as fast as these modern conveniences.
Like parasites on a host, con artists leech on the lives of trusting immigrants. In one fell swoop, they tempt them in their vulnerability and steal their financial freedom.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to stop scam artists altogether, but you can take action to avoid scams.
In today’s article, we’re exploring the most common scams facing immigrants, what to do in the aftermath of a scam, and how to avoid such schemes altogether.
Let’s dive in.
What Are Scams?
A scam is a financial trap.
Like a net in a forest, scams are laid to deprive people of their money, their private data, and in some cases, their personal identity.
All scams hide under the veneer of authentic goods and services.
Therefore, scams exist in almost every imaginable form, from student loan forgiveness and romance scams to online purchase scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and even grandparent scams.
If a good thing exists, its fraudulent doppelgänger does, too. That’s why everyone is vulnerable to scams—especially in the digital age. In fact, consumers in the U.S. reported collective losses to scams of over $10 billion during 2023.
5 Common Immigrant Scams
While scams affect everyone, they have a sinister habit of forming around population groups.
Unfortunately, immigrants often find themselves at the epicenter of these attacks.
Why? Because bad actors prey upon the pressures that new arrivals face. Knowing that recent immigrants are often stressed and overwhelmed, con artists tempt unsuspecting victims with offers that are simply too good to be true.
If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this: when an offer seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is a scam.
To that end, these are the five scams recent immigrants must assiduously be on the lookout for and avoid.
1. Immigration Services Scams
Immigration law is complex, and no one can change that overnight (not even the government!).
Nevertheless, many scammers shamelessly pretend to be expert immigration lawyers with the “inside track” to expedite your path to citizenship.
Many of these criminals will advertise a one-time fee to help you “cut the line.” In most cases, they will request a wire transfer to a bank account.
Once they receive the funds, they will cease communication with you. And once you realize you
have been scammed, it will be too late.
After all, wire transfers are irreversible.
2. Rental Scams
The real estate market is hyper-competitive.
Because housing prices remain out of reach, most people in the U.S. are forced to rent (rather than buy). Therefore, apartment costs are inflated across the country.
This has created a vacuum for scam artists to post fake listings that catch the eye of immigrants ready to find their next home.
For example, if the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Atlanta is $2,000, scammers will post a similar unit at just $1,200. They will provide appealing pictures, a lengthy rental history, and even a working phone number and email address to contact the “landlord.”
Unfortunately, rental scams frequently happen on legitimate housing platforms like Zillow, Trulia, and Apartments.
As a general rule, never commit to renting an apartment without first seeing it in person and shaking hands with the broker. More importantly, never wire money to a real estate agent or landlord until you verify their authenticity.
3. Utility Scams
Even after you find your new home, you may still be vulnerable to attack.
Here’s why: scam artists often impersonate utility companies to extort extra payments and steal confidential information.
In many cases, thieves will pose as utility representatives and demand immediate payment, all while threatening to shut off your services. This scam typically happens within the first month—and occasionally within the first week—of new tenants moving into a home.
And while most utility scams are often conducted via email, they occasionally occur over the phone (and by text message).
Keep in mind that real utility companies will never ask for your Social Security Number (SSN) or bank account information over the phone. If you have any questions about the identity of your home’s utility company, check with your landlord or real estate agent.
4. Employment Scams
The United States is a desirable place to live—and scammers know it all too well.
That’s why they often pose as employers offering work visas in exchange for upfront fees.
Whether through LinkedIn, job boards, or direct emails, scammers impersonate hiring managers with frightening authenticity.
Their weapons of war will all be the same: flattery, seductive salaries, and above all, urgency.
In other words, they will pressure you to “take action now” so you don’t miss out on a job opportunity (and your chance to come to America).
In moments like these, it’s essential to slow everything down. Look closely at the hiring manager’s email address. Does anything look weird?
If not, conduct a Google search to check the identity of the person who contacted you. Then, call the company directory for further verification.
5. Remittance Scams
Immigrants are one of the world’s leading economic engines.
In fact, migrant workers send billions of dollars to loved ones around the world every year. That’s why scammers are desperate to squeeze into the conversation.
By posing as your family, friends, and colleagues, they will attempt to solicit payments you’ll never be able to get back.
Whenever possible, only send remittances through reputable vendors—like uLink. And avoid “informal” channels at all costs, especially if they promise unusually low fees and rates.
Scammed? Here’s What To Do Next
If you recently fell victim to a scam, time is of the essence. Panicking won’t help: it’s important to take decisive action as quickly as you can.
Depending on the nature of the scam, there are multiple responses to consider.
Call the Police
This may sound extreme, but it’s important for your local police (or sheriff’s office) to know exactly what happened.
By contacting the police, you will establish an official record of the scam. Should the case escalate to a court of law, your local police will be able to attest to your claims (and the timeline you provided).
Depending on the severity of the scam, you might also consider contacting your state attorney general.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has one focus: defending consumers against financial predators and bad business practices.
If you fall victim to a scam, the FTC will want to know about it.
And when you report fraud, your case will be shared with nearly 3,000 law enforcement officers around the country.
You can easily report your incident to the FTC online.
Contact the FBI
While consumer scams are directed to the FTC, online scams are often routed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
More specifically, internet-based traps—especially mobile payment schemes—are monitored by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Visit the IC3 site to learn more about what they do, and how they can help if you have an issue.
Seek Legal Assistance
After contacting the authorities and three-letter agencies, you may want to consider recruiting a lawyer.
If your financial losses are significant enough, a lawyer may be able to help you reclaim some (or even all) of your stolen funds.
More importantly, a lawyer may also be able to help you if your scam involves any immigration or visa-related issues. After all, your legal status takes precedence over everything else.
Looking for free or no-cost legal help? Check out this nationwide map of pro bono legal providers, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Protect Your Identity and Finances
If the scammers got hold of your bank account information or Social Security Number (SSN), contact the following parties:
- Your financial institution(s): First, ask them to close your current bank account and open a new one. Then, request additional security layers be provided to your account.
- The credit bureaus: This includes calling all three organizations—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—for them to “freeze” your credit file to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
After you change your bank account information, you will need to update your payment profile with any companies authorized to make recurring charges (like your internet provider).
5 Tips to Avoid Common Scams
In generations past, Americans were raised by a simple rule: “don’t talk to strangers.”
In the digital age, consumers might do well to follow similar advice. Indeed, a healthy dose of skepticism can go a long way to protecting your personal and financial information.
Nevertheless, the following tips on avoiding common scams may offer a bit more nuance:
- Don’t click on strange links. Whether received by text, DM, or email, always verify the sender before opening a link. Even the most innocent-looking links can be a trojan horse for criminal behavior.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Passwords are important, but they’re not bulletproof. Wherever possible, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add additional layers of security to your accounts.
- Shut down solicitors. It’s okay to be skeptical when someone contacts you out of the blue—especially if you don’t know them. If anyone asks for your information (like a username, password, or one-time code) exit the conversation. Then, block the caller/sender and report them to the agencies listed above.
- Ignore suspicious payment requirements. Scammers seldom use trusted platforms. Instead, they prefer to get paid via wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrencies; methods that can’t be easily traced (or canceled). Steer clear of adhering to strange payment requirements.
- Recognize red flags. Scam artists are sneaky, but they’re not as smart as they think. Keep an eye out for pressure tactics, urgent deadlines, and questionable credentials—the three hallmarks of bad actors.
Above all, trust your instincts.
If something doesn’t feel right, chances are your subconscious is aware of something invisible to the naked eye.
Stay calm.
Think slowly.
And remember: if it seems too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
uLink: Your Partner in the Digital Age
If you recently fell prey to a scam, you’re not alone.
Far from it.
Every day, thousands of people across the U.S. deal with the consequences of con artists. And though they encounter an array of challenges, they ultimately triumph over their assailants.
When it comes to money transfers, uLink delivers high-security standards.
Thanks to our advanced encryption protocols such as multi-factor authentication, our customers have a high level of trust in our platform.
Whether you send money through www.ulink.com or by using our all-new SuperApp, you can have total confidence your payment will arrive safely on time, every time.
Plus, with great exchange rates and fees starting as low as $0, you can save big along the way.
