Although traveling in the U.S. is generally very safe, scams targeting international exchange participants have increased. Scammers take advantage of cultural and language differences that make it hard to tell real requests from fake ones.
These situations don’t happen often, but staying aware helps protect you and prevents problems. InterExchange’s support materials provide guidance on protecting yourself from fraud—both participants and host employers should review this information to stay prepared.
Be Aware of Common Scams
The first step in protecting yourself against frauds and scams is awareness. Based on FBI and government sources, here are most common frauds and scams targeting international exchange participants in the U.S. You can also check the U.S. Department of State website.
- Government impersonation scams are the biggest danger. Scammers pose as immigration officials, police, or tax agents claiming visa problems and demanding immediate payment to avoid deportation or arrest. They use official-sounding language and fake phone numbers to appear legitimate.
- Cyber kidnapping scams involve fake claims that your family has been kidnapped, demanding ransom money. Scammers may use AI technology to impersonate voices or create fake photos.
Tax and Fee Scams include fake demands for “international student tax” or “visa fees” with threats of legal consequences for non-payment. - IRS impersonation scams involve fake calls, emails, or texts demanding immediate payment for unpaid taxes and threatening arrest or deportation.
- Tourist scams include phone scams, hotel listings, ATMs, photography, WIFI, taxis, forgotten luggage, and many more.
- Someone asking for help or directions – be careful if someone asks you for directions, money, or to check your phone if there aren’t a lot of people around. This could be a way to distract you before stealing from you.
- Phishing scams often claim you’ll be charged for a subscription unless you call to cancel. Always check your bank statement first to confirm any charges, and report phishing emails using the “report phishing” button to protect yourself and others.
Look Out for These Red Flags:
It’s always a scam if someone:- Demands that you pay immediately via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Won’t let you hang up to check if they are real
- Threatens deportation, arrest, or visa problems
- Asks for personal information over the phone
- Claims to work for the government and threatens deportation
What to Do When Strangers Contact You
If someone you don’t know contacts you by phone, email, or social media asking for personal information, never share any personal information.
- Instead, tell them “I can’t share information right now, but I need to know about you first.”
- Ask for their full name, phone number, email, company name, why they need your information, and badge/ID number if they claim to work for the government.
- If they won’t share information about themselves, they are probably scammers. Remember, government officials will never call you; they use U.S. mail.
- Don’t click links or respond to emails from strangers.
- Only enter personal information on trusted, secure websites.
- Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
Bottom line: trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is. When in doubt, verify through official .gov websites or contact InterExchange.
Protect Your Important Documents
- Only carry your passport when you really need it — use your driver’s license or passport copy for daily identification.
- Never share your Social Security number with anyone and keep your Social Security card in a safe place separate from your wallet.
- Make two photocopies of all important documents: passport ID page, J-1 Visa, Social Security card, and driver’s license. Leave one copy with family or friends at home. Keep the other copy in a different place from your original documents.
- Tell someone at home where you’re staying and how to contact you.
If You Lose Documents
- You can stay in the U.S. for your allowed time (shown on your I-94 record) even without your passport, but you need a valid passport to leave the U.S. or enter other countries.
- If you lose your passport, contact your country’s embassy or consulate for a replacement.
- If you plan to leave and return to the U.S., apply for a new J-1 visa before coming back.
- If you lose your DS-2019 form, contact InterExchange immediately (917.373.0994).
Handle Money Safely
- Pay attention to what’s around you when using ATMs. Only carry the cash you need for that day.
- Use credit cards when possible, but confirm they’re accepted first.
- Don’t show large amounts of cash around strangers.
- Notify your bank before traveling that you’re visiting to the U.S. for an extended period of time.
- Never wire money or give credit card information to strangers, even if they threaten you.
Online Safety Tips
- Use unique, secure passwords for online accounts.
- Check your bank and credit card statements monthly for purchases you didn’t make.
- Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them leave a message. Call back only if the call is real.
- Only enter personal information on official, trusted websites with security protection that you can verify are legitimate—look for “https” in the web address.
