Scams & Safety
If someone contacts you, especially via phone, and is telling you to move quickly or that a situation is urgent, that is a reason to slow down. A real agency will give you notice of required actions, and will contact you in writing. Take time to verify the organization before you take any action (send money or share personal information).
If you are unsure if someone contacting you is who they say they are, reach out to OISS to ask for help.
If you have a pop-up or a suspicious page or alert on your computer, contact PCC IT services at 971-722-4400 or servicedesk@pcc.edu for help.
As in many places, it is common in the U.S. for thieves to pretend to be someone they are not to gain access to personal information, bank information, or to trick people into sending them money.
International students are a popular target for scams. Scammers pretend to work for the U.S. government, the student’s home government, PCC, or other official institutions. They will try to scare students into action by threatening their visa status or other important aspects of the student’s life.
Common Scam Types
Read more about common frauds and scams on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website. If you are a victim of a scam, contact OISS for help and advice on proper reporting.
- Government Fraud Scams: Scammer claims to be from the U.S. or your home country government and threatens your visa status if you do not do what they ask immediately.
- Ex: Student A receives a phone call from a number that appeared to be ICE. They asked the student for personal information and said if they do not provide it immediately their visa could be canceled and they could be subject to deportation. Student A told them to check for needed information in SEVIS and to contact their DSO instead of giving them information over the phone. After the call, they contacted the SEVIS team who confirmed the caller was a scammer.
- Job Offer Scams: Scammer sends emails or text messages offering a high paying job, or a job you did not apply for.
- Ex: Student B receives a text message from someone saying they are a recruiter with Indeed and their skills match a great job opportunity. Student B asks about the job and the “recruiter” says they just need to pay a training fee and a small visa support fee but then they can work remotely as many or few hours as they need. Student B becomes suspicious and contacts OISS who confirms the text is fraud. Student B blocks the number.
- Phishing Scams: Scammer sends an email that looks very similar to emails from a legitimate website they have visited. The email includes links to a fake website that looks real.
- Ex: Student C receives an email from Company They Like asking them to reset their login information. They click the link provided and the website looks similar to one they have visited before, but they have not seen this page. There are form fields for their username, and password. Student C decides to search for the company website online to confirm the web address is the correct one. They see it is different and forward the email to PCC IT to report the phishing scam.
- Housing Scams: Scammer posts fake rentals that look very good for the rental price.
- Ex: Student D is looking for an apartment and finally finds one in a convenient area that they can afford. The pictures look good so they contact the listing to ask to visit. The person on the phone says the property is very popular, and the student will need to pay a deposit right away before they can visit the property. Student D says no thank you and hangs up, they know this is likely a scam.
Scam Warning Signs
- Unexpected contact from someone claiming to be a government official or PCC staff
- Pressure to act quickly or face serious consequences
- Demands for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Requests for personal information such as your passport number, bank details, or SEVIS ID
- Unsolicited event or offer
- Messages with poor grammar, strange email addresses, or suspicious links
- Offers that seem “too good to be true” (like guaranteed jobs or scholarships)
- Being told to keep the request a secret
Trust your instincts: if something feels wrong, it probably is.
What to Do if You’ve Been Targeted
- Pause: Do not let anyone rush you and do not provide any personal or financial information such as bank account or passport number.
- Verify: Contact the organization using an official website or phone number.
- Report: Notify OISS or PCC IT immediately to help prevent scamming for other students.
- Block: Block fraudulent callers and texters to prevent future contact.
Safety in the City
In all major cities, it is important to stay aware of your surroundings and take some small steps to stay safe.
If you ever feel unsafe or need help, you can call 911, the U.S. emergency number. Your phone will connect to 911 even if you don’t have service or data.
Locals say:
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Especially at night or when you are in a new area, do not be distracted by your phone or block out surrounding sounds with headphones.
- Plan your routes ahead of time. Tell someone where you are going, when you will get there, and then tell them when you arrive. Choose well-lit and busier streets when walking at night.
- Do not carry large amounts of cash or other valuables when not necessary. Keep all valuables out of sight and close to your body. Do not leave bags unattended or leave any valuables or visible items in your car.
- If someone does try to rob you, give them any items they ask for without fighting. Do not stare, but pay attention to identifying factors like height, tattoos, or other descriptors that could help police find them.
- If you witness a crime, keep yourself at a safe distance, call 911 (the U.S. emergency number), immediately to tell them where you are and what happened. Help any injured people if you are able.
- When walking at night, wear bright colors when possible and be aware of traffic, especially in winter months when it is dark, rainy, and hard to see.