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  4. DHS and Consulates Warn Migrants of Telephonic Fraud Scams

DHS and Consulates Warn Migrants of Telephonic Fraud Scams

Release Date
Fri, 07/13/2018

EDINBURG, Texas – A new type of telephone scam targeting migrants, requesting an electronic transfer of money to resolve some aspect of their family’s immigration cases in the United States, is now on the radar of the Department of Homeland Security’s Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor (JTF-W STC) and consular officials from several neighboring countries. 

People are receiving unsolicited calls from scammers posing as an authority figures from several DHS entities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents, as well as consular officers and shelter administrators, where they request money to be sent electronically to help their family obtain some service or consideration, or to purchase travel tickets.  The scammers then recommend or demand the money be wired to an account to fulfill that service or prevent an adverse action.   

“It’s always disappointing when scammers try to take advantage of what can be emotionally charged situations,” according to Jaime Salazar, the Chief of Staff at the JTF-W STC.  “Thankfully, we have excellent relations with our international partners and we’re working to ensure that we spread the word to help prevent people from being taken advantage of.”  

The Department of Homeland Security and the consulates DO NOT solicit money over the phone. If such calls are received, people should  decline to wire any funds, make a note of the number and any other  pertinent details about the call, and report the incident to the authorities for investigation, as well as to their appertaining consulate. 

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity to the Rio Grande Valley Operations Center at 800-863-9382, its new international number at 001-880-863-9382, and through the WhatsApp messaging service at 1-956-295-0887. 

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @CBPRGV.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021