Common Scams Targeting Newcomers

Scammers target people who are still learning how U.S. systems work. They may claim your visa is in danger, your SSN is suspended, your bank account must be verified, your apartment deposit is due, or a job offer needs a fee before you can start. Slow the conversation down before you pay, share documents, click links, or read a login code.

Who This Guide Is For#

Use this guide if you recently arrived, are preparing to arrive, or help a family member, student, employee, tenant, or visitor handle setup tasks.

It is most useful when someone asks you for money, documents, login details, verification codes, or urgent action connected to:

• Immigration paperwork.
• Government agencies.
• A Social Security Number.
• A bank or credit card account.
• Housing or utilities.
• A job offer.
• School or campus issues.
• Delivery, phone, internet, or online accounts.

For account and document safety, read How to Protect Your Personal Information. For utility-specific pressure tactics, read Common Utility Scams.

The Basic Scam Pattern#

Most scams use the same structure:

1. Someone contacts you first.
2. They pretend to be official, helpful, romantic, urgent, or connected to a real task.
3. They create fear, hope, or confusion.
4. They tell you to pay, share documents, click a link, deposit a check, move money, or read a code.
5. They keep you on the phone or in the chat so you cannot ask someone else.

The details change, but the defense stays the same: pause, verify somewhere else, and keep records.

Government Impersonation Scams#

Government impersonators may claim to work for the IRS, Social Security Administration, USCIS, ICE, police, court, DMV, Medicare, FTC, FBI, or a state agency. They may use real agency names, real employee names, spoofed phone numbers, fake badge photos, fake case numbers, and official-looking letters.

Common lines include:

• "Your SSN has been suspended."
• "There is a warrant for your arrest."
• "You missed jury duty."
• "Your immigration status is in danger."
• "Move your money to protect it."
• "Pay today to avoid deportation."
• "Do not tell anyone while we investigate."

Safer steps:

1. Hang up or stop replying.
2. Do not call the number from the message.
3. Open the official government website yourself. Federal agency sites usually end in .gov or .mil.
4. Use your online account, mailed notice, school office, lawyer, or known agency contact to verify.
5. Save the message, number, username, email, documents, and payment instructions.
6. Report the scam.

Immigration Help And Fake Legal Services#

Immigration scams are dangerous because a bad filing, missed deadline, or false promise can affect real status questions. Watch for people who promise guaranteed approval, claim they have a special government connection, ask you to sign blank forms, refuse to give copies, or charge for forms that are free on official websites.

You may hear the word "notario" in some immigrant communities. In some countries, a notario can have legal authority. In the United States, a notary public is not the same as an immigration lawyer. A notary usually cannot give immigration legal advice unless they are also a licensed attorney or otherwise authorized to provide immigration services.

Before paying for immigration help:

• Check whether the person is a licensed attorney or an accredited representative.
• Use official USCIS forms and instructions.
• Keep copies of everything submitted.
• Pay fees through official USCIS channels when a government filing fee is due.
• Be careful with social media accounts that copy real lawyer names, logos, or photos.
• Ask a school international office, employer immigration contact, legal aid group, or trusted nonprofit before you pay someone you found online.

Housing And Rental Scams#

Housing pressure makes people vulnerable. You may need an address quickly, may still be outside the country, and may not know normal rent prices.

Common rental scam signs:

• The rent is far below similar listings.
• The landlord cannot show the unit or meet by video.
• They ask for a deposit before you sign a lease or see enough proof.
• They ask you to wire money, use a payment app such as Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App, send crypto, pay by gift card, or pay a "refundable" application fee outside a normal portal.
• They claim to be out of state, overseas, sick, in the military, or unable to meet.
• They send a lease with mismatched names, addresses, or company details.
• They ask for passport, SSN, bank statement, or other sensitive documents before you verify the property.

Safer steps:

1. Search the address and photos.
2. Compare prices with nearby listings.
3. Verify the property manager, landlord, or leasing office through a separate website or phone number.
4. See the unit in person, use a trusted local contact, or book temporary housing first.
5. Read the lease before paying a deposit.
6. Use payment methods with records.

For temporary housing choices, read Finding Temporary Housing. For apartment applications, read Apartment Application Process.

Fake Job Scams#

Fake jobs often target students, spouses, new workers, and people looking for remote work. The scam may look like a recruiter text, a WhatsApp message, a LinkedIn message, a campus job, a mystery shopping task, a nanny job, a package reshipping job, or a remote assistant role.

Red flags include:

• You get hired without a real interview.
• The company sends a check and tells you to buy equipment, gift cards, crypto, or office supplies.
• The employer asks you to send money to another person.
• The job pays far more than normal for simple tasks.
• They use a personal email address instead of a company domain.
• They ask for passport, SSN, bank information, or I-9 documents before you verify the employer.
• They ask you to receive packages or move money through your bank account.
• They say you must pay a fee to get paid.

Verify the employer through the company website, official job portal, school career office, or a known HR contact. If you have a visa or work authorization limit, ask your school international office, employer, attorney, or qualified adviser before accepting work.

Bank, SSN, And Verification-Code Scams#

Scammers may pretend to be your bank, credit card company, phone carrier, delivery service, school, tax office, Social Security, or a fraud department. They may already know your name, phone number, last four digits, bank name, or address.

Do not share:

• Full SSN or photos of your Social Security card.
• Passport, visa, I-94, EAD, green card, or driver's license photos.
• Bank login, card number, PIN, or security answers.
• One-time codes from text, email, authenticator apps, or WhatsApp.
• Remote access to your phone or computer.

If a message says your account is locked, your card was used, a delivery failed, or a refund is waiting, do not click the link. Open the official app or website yourself. If you use a phone number, use the number on your card, statement, official website, or account portal.

If a message says your employer needs a new direct-deposit form, tax form, or account-verification step, do not reply from the message. Open the payroll portal yourself or contact HR through the company directory.

Utility Scams#

Utility scams usually threaten immediate shutoff of electricity, gas, water, internet, or phone service. The caller or message may demand payment by gift card, QR code, barcode, crypto, payment app, wire transfer, or prepaid card.

Before paying:

• Check your official account portal.
• Call the number from your bill or the provider website.
• Ask your landlord, building office, or roommate for written proof if they manage the utility.
• Do not let an unexpected worker enter your home until you verify the appointment.

Read Common Utility Scams for a full shutdown-call and fake-technician checklist.

Payment Red Flags#

Payment method matters. Scammers prefer methods that move fast and leave you with weak refund options.

If these apps are new to you, read Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and Payment Apps before using them for rent, furniture, deposits, roommate bills, online purchases, or marketplace sales.

Fast Verification Checklist#

If You Already Paid Or Shared Information#

Act quickly. Recovery depends on the payment method, timing, and account access.

1. Stop contact with the scammer.
2. Save evidence before deleting messages.
3. Contact your bank, card issuer, payment app, wire company, gift card company, crypto platform, or money transfer provider.
4. Change passwords if you shared login details or codes.
5. Turn on two-factor authentication.
6. Freeze credit if your SSN, passport, driver's license, or financial identity may be exposed.
7. Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov if someone used your information.
8. Report fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
9. Report online or internet-enabled crime to IC3.gov.
10. Tell your school, employer, landlord, bank, or lawyer if the scam involved them.

Common Mistakes#

Decision Rules#

Use these rules when you feel rushed:

• If someone says you will be arrested, deported, or fined unless you pay today, stop and verify.
• If someone asks for gift cards, crypto, wire transfer, payment app, cash, gold, or QR code payment, treat it as a major warning sign.
• If someone asks for your SSN, passport, bank login, card number, PIN, or one-time code after contacting you first, do not share it.
• If a landlord wants money before you verify the unit and lease, do not pay yet.
• If a job requires you to pay money, deposit a check, buy equipment through a stranger, receive packages, or move money, verify the employer first.
• If someone says they can fix an immigration, payroll, tax, or USCIS problem faster if you pay a private helper, slow down and verify whether the underlying problem is real first.
• If an immigration helper guarantees approval or asks you to sign blank forms, get a second opinion from a licensed attorney, accredited representative, legal aid group, school office, or trusted nonprofit.
• If you are unsure, pause for one day when possible. Scammers hate delays because delays give you time to check.

Costs And Timing#

Scams can cost nothing, a small fee, or thousands of dollars. The dollar amount often depends on the story: rent deposit, immigration filing, fake tax debt, fake SSN problem, fake equipment purchase, fake utility shutoff, fake job fee, or fake investment.

Move fastest when money, login access, or identity documents are involved:

What To Do Next#

• Save official contact pages for your bank, school, employer, landlord, utility company, USCIS account, Social Security, and state DMV.
• Set up strong passwords and two-factor authentication for email, banking, school, phone, and immigration accounts.
• Read How to Protect Your Personal Information before sending SSN, passport, or bank documents.
• Read Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and Payment Apps before paying strangers, roommates, sellers, landlords, or service providers through payment apps.
• Read Sending and Receiving International Money Transfers before sending money abroad or receiving emergency funds.
• Read Common Utility Scams if someone threatens shutoff or sends a payment link.
• If you already lost money or shared sensitive information, use the next guide: What To Do If You Were Scammed.

Related Guides#

• How to Protect Your Personal Information
• What To Do If You Were Scammed
• Common Utility Scams
• USCIS Address Change Versus USPS Forwarding
• Finding Temporary Housing
• Renting Your First Apartment
• Apartment Application Process
• Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and Payment Apps
• Sending and Receiving International Money Transfers
• How to Get a Social Security Number
• Understanding Your First Paycheck
• W-2 Versus 1099

Sources#

This guide uses official or primary sources for rules and government steps. Local rules may still vary. (Last checked: September 10, 2026)

• FTC: How To Avoid a Scam
• FTC: Scams
• FTC: Job Scams
• FTC: Rental Listing Scams
• FTC: Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams
• USCIS: Avoid Scams
• SSA: Protect Yourself from Scams
• CFPB: Fraud and Scams
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

Key Takeaway#