Most common ruses include violations of immigration or customs laws, unspecified green cards matter
Department of Homeland Security has issued a fraud alert about how scammers impersonating DHS personnel defraud the public targeting immigrants, minority groups or people with foreign ties in particular.
Noting that each year, DHS receives hundreds of reports of individuals impersonating DHS employees to defraud the public, the alert issued by the DHS Inspector General also offers tips on how to avoid becoming another victim.
Read: US indicts six India-based call centers for phone scams (February 7, 2022)
Impersonators can spoof actual DHS phone numbers and create email addresses that resemble DHS email addresses in their attempts appear legitimate, it said in an Aug 29 release. Some will even email or text pictures of real and doctored law enforcement credentials.
These impersonators will try to convince targets to provide personally identifiable information, passwords, credit card or bank numbers, or payment via money transfer services or prepaid debit cards, DHS said.
Many reports to DHS are related to the targeting of immigrants, minority groups or people with foreign ties.
The most common ruses are: Violations of immigration or customs laws, lost or duplicate passports used abroad to commit crimes, unspecified green cards matters, packages detained at the border containing drugs or other illegal materials, and problems with the victim’s immigration forms.
Imposters…
