scam phone call from 'immigration department'???

[monica11 0]

Hello everyone- We have filed our join I-751 to remove the conditions from my GC:

02/05/2010 I-751 sent to VT

02/08/2010 packed received

02/09/2010 check cleared

02/13/210 received NOA (I-797C)

03/01/2010 ASC Appointment Notice (dated 2/26/2010)

03/15/2010 ASC Appointment

Two weeks ago (Saturday) I’ve received a strange phone call from someone (with a Jamaican accent) claiming to call from ‘immigration department’ – the person was asking if I’m such and such but it wasn’t my name. Then asked if I’m a wife of -my husband’s name- and I said ‘yes’ and introduced myself- He just said ‘aha aha’ and hung up on me. My husband and his brother received missed calls from the same number around the same time (no messages left).. it was (800)375-5283. The same (caller and time) ‘Immigration department’ called my husband’s cousin and asked about hubby and ‘another person’ (we never heard of).

We were all thinking that it might be some kind of scam:

- we never provided in our applications my husband’s brother and cousin info.

-the phone call was on Saturday??

- caller didn’t ask about me (I’m the one who is applying for GC)

-(800)375-5283 National Customer Service Center – is closed on Sat and I don’t think they are able to make outgoing calls from toll free number – plus today anyone can call from internet and mask its caller ID – at least that what my husband is saying.

I don’t know what to think? Anyone experienced something like this?

[nane1104 146]

I hwave heard of scam calls before but never got one myself.

What you experienced sounds very very fishy to me hough for all the reasons you named...

Maybe call USCIS on monday and try to verify a possible call?!

[v333k 59]

Hello everyone- We have filed our join I-751 to remove the conditions from my GC:

02/05/2010 I-751 sent to VT

02/08/2010 packed received

02/09/2010 check cleared

02/13/210 received NOA (I-797C)

03/01/2010 ASC Appointment Notice (dated 2/26/2010)

03/15/2010 ASC Appointment

Two weeks ago (Saturday) I’ve received a strange phone call from someone (with a Jamaican accent) claiming to call from ‘immigration department’ – the person was asking if I’m such and such but it wasn’t my name. Then asked if I’m a wife of -my husband’s name- and I said ‘yes’ and introduced myself- He just said ‘aha aha’ and hung up on me. My husband and his brother received missed calls from the same number around the same time (no messages left).. it was (800)375-5283. The same (caller and time) ‘Immigration department’ called my husband’s cousin and asked about hubby and ‘another person’ (we never heard of).

We were all thinking that it might be some kind of scam:

- we never provided in our applications my husband’s brother and cousin info.

-the phone call was on Saturday??

- caller didn’t ask about me (I’m the one who is applying for GC)

-(800)375-5283 National Customer Service Center – is closed on Sat and I don’t think they are able to make outgoing calls from toll free number – plus today anyone can call from internet and mask its caller ID – at least that what my husband is saying.

I don’t know what to think? Anyone experienced something like this?

It does seem strange, but I think you are correct that it is a scam. One thing you can do which might put your mind at ease is to schedule an infopass appointment (if the office is not too far) and have them look into this for you. Also, during that time, mention that there has been a call and you suspect it is a scam call. If infopass location is far, then you can call the USCIS office and inform them about this and that way you can check and see if they might give you any information regarding you application and if indeed it was them.... but you are correct, they don't work on Saturday so that is your biggest clue that it was a scam.

In general, don't provide any information if asked for over the phone.

[monica11 0]

I hwave heard of scam calls before but never got one myself.

What you experienced sounds very very fishy to me hough for all the reasons you named...

Maybe call USCIS on monday and try to verify a possible call?!

Thanks! It really sounds weird - the caller even didn't provided his name!!!

[cashel 0]

Thanks! It really sounds weird - the caller even didn't provided his name!!!

That happened to me a couple weeks ago, probably two week ago...someone male asked for me and had a weird voice(now, that made sense, was a jamaican acent...i know because a lived in jamaica for two years).....he was calling all day long (probably three times) but i was at work and i never answered numbers that i dont know.....finally, i answered in the night...he asked for me by my full name and i said...yes, i am...and he hung up the phone.... ....the call was from a restricted number and in the night from a 800- number... i am getting worry now!!!!

[Christi and Ian 24]

Get the number & try a reverse look-up. Sounds odd - especially because there isn't an "Immigration Department" any official contact would announce themselves as either from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or U.S. Department of State.

[monica11 0]

That happened to me a couple weeks ago, probably two week ago...someone male asked for me and had a weird voice(now, that made sense, was a jamaican acent...i know because a lived in jamaica for two years).....he was calling all day long (probably three times) but i was at work and i never answered numbers that i dont know.....finally, i answered in the night...he asked for me by my full name and i said...yes, i am...and he hung up the phone.... ....the call was from a restricted number and in the night from a 800- number... i am getting worry now!!!!

My hubby's family (like you) is from Colombia- and he carries common Colombian last name? Is there any scam going on??

[v333k 59]

Guys - like Banks, Credit Cards and all sort of financial companies, USCIS will not contact you by phone. They will always contact people by mail to inform of some requirements, notifications or approval/denial letters. If they need something, WE have to do the work and not them... so they will send a letter to call us for an interview.

I would say relax and don't stress over it. If you want to relax your minds, I would just call the USCIS line or make an infopass and ask about your file and see if they provide you with any information that indicates that someone from USCIS is trying to contact you by phone.

[cashel 0]

My hubby's family (like you) is from Colombia- and he carries common Colombian last name? Is there any scam going on??

Really???..that's nice!!...I carry my husband's last name now and it is a gringo last name! LOL..but i am Colombian and my single last name is really really colombian'''

I do not know...after read your post, i have been thinking in that call that i received...that was weird that day, but i did not give any thinking, now i am wonder about what that was about!

[monica11 0]

Really???..that's nice!!...I carry my husband's last name now and it is a gringo last name! LOL..but i am Colombian and my single last name is really really colombian'''

I do not know...after read your post, i have been thinking in that call that i received...that was weird that day, but i did not give any thinking, now i am wonder about what that was about!

Was it the same 800 number ?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If all you gave was a name which they all ready had I'm not sure how they can scam you.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You can try looking up the number on this website - and even reporting it as a potential scam on this same site. This site is valid: http://whocalled.us/ and I have used it to try and find out numbers that appear on my call display or who hang up when I answer the phone. They have been mainly telemarketers in my case, but I think it would be interesting to see what you get. Was it the number on display from the USCIS Call Center? You may want to write down the times of the calls, and get the times of the calls to your relatives, then send in an inquiry to USCIS - or to your Senator's office saying you are receiving spam phone calls from someone saying they are from immigration and want to report them to immigration. He/she should be able to forward the information on your behalf.

There is the possibility that a call is valid -but from what you are describing it sounds very amateurish and unprofessional - hmm, wait a second, maybe that could be USCIS after all ! Regardless, try and document what is happening and then report it either at the who called us website above or to USCIS through your elected representative. If it is USCIS, then this is incredibly unprofessional and irresponsible - and it may even be a staffer abusing their access to the 1-800 number - something else USCIS should know about.

[Europeanboy 0]

Hello everyone- We have filed our join I-751 to remove the conditions from my GC:

02/05/2010 I-751 sent to VT

02/08/2010 packed received

02/09/2010 check cleared

02/13/210 received NOA (I-797C)

03/01/2010 ASC Appointment Notice (dated 2/26/2010)

03/15/2010 ASC Appointment

Two weeks ago (Saturday) I’ve received a strange phone call from someone (with a Jamaican accent) claiming to call from ‘immigration department’ – the person was asking if I’m such and such but it wasn’t my name. Then asked if I’m a wife of -my husband’s name- and I said ‘yes’ and introduced myself- He just said ‘aha aha’ and hung up on me. My husband and his brother received missed calls from the same number around the same time (no messages left).. it was (800)375-5283. The same (caller and time) ‘Immigration department’ called my husband’s cousin and asked about hubby and ‘another person’ (we never heard of).

We were all thinking that it might be some kind of scam:

- we never provided in our applications my husband’s brother and cousin info.

-the phone call was on Saturday??

- caller didn’t ask about me (I’m the one who is applying for GC)

-(800)375-5283 National Customer Service Center – is closed on Sat and I don’t think they are able to make outgoing calls from toll free number – plus today anyone can call from internet and mask its caller ID – at least that what my husband is saying.

I don’t know what to think? Anyone experienced something like this?

Yes, that's their toll free number. The USCIS offices don't work on Sat/Sun for the public but that doesn't mean that they don't have people working those days on cases only. My case got touched last Saturday. My package was received and signed for on Saturday so that means that there are people working weekends in the Processing Centers. Months ago there was a different person here on VJ sharing her experience with a call from USCIS checking on her and asking simple questions helping them to adjudicate the case easier. By the way when I had my biometrics taken all the staff at the ASC was from Haiti or Jamaica except their manager I think....

[john_and_marlene 162]

A simple google search on the phone number would tell you that the number is a legitimate contact number for the USCIS National Customer Service Center.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ddce0b89284a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=ddce0b89284a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[ScratchIt 12]

Guys - like Banks, Credit Cards and all sort of financial companies, USCIS will not contact you by phone. They will always contact people by mail to inform of some requirements, notifications or approval/denial letters. If they need something, WE have to do the work and not them... so they will send a letter to call us for an interview.

I would say relax and don't stress over it. If you want to relax your minds, I would just call the USCIS line or make an infopass and ask about your file and see if they provide you with any information that indicates that someone from USCIS is trying to contact you by phone.

Not factual. They contacted me by phone.