Scammers target international students because cultural and language barriers often make it difficult for international students to determine whether an offer for help or a request for money is real or fake. The most common scams encountered are those involving immigration, tuition and employment.
While some scammers may make threatening phone calls or send intimidating messages on social media or through email, others may use more gentle approaches, including using personal information they illegally obtained to scare someone into providing immediate payment or information.
If you receive a threatening call or message from someone claiming to be a government or law enforcement official, you should:
- Not give the person any personal or financial information
- Try to collect contact information from the caller
- End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist
- First contact law enforcement by calling the Ohio State University Police Division at +1 614-292-2121 or Columbus Police at +1 614-645-4545
- Also contact Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs at iss@osu.edu or +1 614-292-6101
For more guidance on avoiding scams, please visit Ohio State Student Legal Services and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
If you believe you are the victim of any type of scam or fraudulent activity, please report it to the police and also schedule an appointment to speak to an SLS attorney.
