Got a call claiming to be from USCIS, with a number that looks official on your screen, demanding a fee or asking for your Social? Take a breath. USCIS itself has already issued a warning: this type of call is a scam. And the best defense against it costs nothing — it's understanding how USCIS actually works.
What happened
In June 2026, USCIS published a fraud alert about calls from scammers posing as USCIS and SAVE program employees. The criminals use a technique called spoofing: they manipulate the caller ID so your phone screen displays a real government number — from DHS lines, the ICE tip line, or the USCIS Ombudsman. The voice on the other end sounds professional, sometimes speaks Portuguese, and the conversation always follows the same script: there's a "problem" with your case and you need to pay right now, or hand over your information, to fix it.
This isn't an exaggeration or a rumor. It's a documented scheme, and the alert came from the agency itself.
What this means for you
The point that dismantles the scam is simple: USCIS doesn't operate that way.
USCIS makes contact primarily by mail, at the address on file with your case. It does not call out of the blue demanding payment, does not send messages through social media, and does not charge fees by phone or email. If someone calls asking for money on the spot, you already know where to start: it's not the government.
Next comes the payment method. USCIS fees are paid one way only — through your online account on the official website (uscis.gov) or through pay.gov. USCIS does not accept Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or gift cards. Anyone asking for payment through those channels, especially over the phone, is deceiving you. Scammers love gift cards and wire transfers precisely because the money disappears and there's no way to trace it or get it back.
The third sign is the threat. The scam script runs on fear: "you're going to be arrested," "you'll be deported today," "there's an outstanding fine and the deadline is now." A real agency doesn't handle anything that way — through a surprise call full of urgency with a clock ticking. And when the payment doesn't come, the scammer shifts targets: now they want your information — Social Security number, date of birth, case number — to open credit lines and loans in your name. In other words, beyond the money from the "fee," what they really want is your identity.
Keeping these three points in mind — contact comes by mail, not by phone; payment only on the official website; the government doesn't threaten you by phone — already protects you from the overwhelming majority of these attacks. It's public, free information, and that's exactly why it exists: to take away the only weapon a scammer has, which is you not knowing how the system works.
In practice
- Got the call? Hang up. Don't confirm any information — not your name, not your case number. If you want to check whether there really is something with your case, log in yourself to your account at uscis.gov or call the official line using the number listed on the website, never the number that called you.
- Never pay an immigration fee by phone, Zelle, gift card, or wire transfer. USCIS fees are paid through the official account or at pay.gov, period.
- Report it. File a report about the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov (FTC) and let the community know — every report helps map the numbers being used. Write down the date, the time, and the number that appeared on your screen.
When in doubt about a document or a deadline, look for the information at the official source. Prime Immigration Office prepares and organizes your documentation — carefully and following the right process — but the person who decides about your specific situation is you, based on reliable information. We are not attorneys and we do not provide legal advice; for guidance on your specific situation, seek a licensed professional or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Sources
- USCIS — Avoid Scams
- USCIS/SAVE — Fraud Alert: Scam Calls Impersonating USCIS (Jun/2026)
- FTC — Report Fraud
Educational information, not legal advice. Prime Immigration Office is a paralegal service — document preparation only. For legal advice, consult a licensed Texas attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.