• Source:JND
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An Indian student in the United States became a victim of a phone scam by criminals pretending to be US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, which resulted in her losing 5,000 USD (approx. Rs 4.28 lacs). The student, Shreya Bedi, pursuing a Master's degree at Indiana University Bloomington, was intimidated into buying gift cards under the fear of arrest and deportation.

Scammers Posing As ICE And Police Officials

It happened on May 29 when Bedi got a call from someone who claimed to be an ICE official. He gave a badge number and asked her to check the information on the official ICE website. "He even called from the same number that is listed on the ICE Maryland office page. It sounded very real," said Bedi. Soon after, she was called by someone impersonating a member of the Olympia Police Department. She was told not to hang up because her phone was supposedly under surveillance. The caller threatened that she was being investigated and had an arrest warrant for immigration fraud issues. "I was too afraid to take any risks. They kept me on the phone for three hours and threatened me with everything," Bedi said in Newsweek.

The imposters, who had access to Bedi’s data, including her Indian hometown, visa status, and university details, claimed she had to pay a bond to avoid immediate detention. They instructed her to buy Apple and Target gift cards totaling 5,000 USD and share the codes with them. "They had information that only government agencies should have. That made it all the more frightening," Bedi said. She was instructed that a police officer would pick up the gift cards and bond documents the following day, but nobody came. The scam has left Bedi in deep distress, both emotionally and financially."I'm already paying student loans. Now I have an extra $5,000 to pay back. This money was supposed to be for rent, eating, and saving up for the future," she said to Newsweek. Being away from family with no one to turn to for support in the US, Bedi now worries about her financial security. “It’s affected everything—from my plans to stay here to applying for an H1B visa,” she further added.

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Targeting Migrant Vulnerabilities

The increasing number of fraudsters targeting foreign students and immigrant communities by posing as ICE agents. NBC News reports asserted that ICE arrested more than 2,200 people on June 5, one of the largest arrest tallies in a single day, creating an environment of fear among the migrants. "I want other students to understand that no official US government agency will request money, bank details, or gift cards via telephone," Bedi warned.

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She is now attempting to recover financially from the financial shock through a GoFundMe campaign. Bedi, while sharing her ordeal, urged international students to be vigilant. “You always have the right to hang up and verify with a lawyer. Government agencies send official letters—they don’t call and threaten you,” she said. “If someone demands gift cards or threatens arrest, it’s definitely a scam.”