OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

International Student Check-In and Orientation

Autumn 2024

Dear Victor,

Before your arrival to Ohio State, we want to warn our international students to be aware of certain ongoing scams, so that you can protect yourself and take precautions.

Scammers target international students because cultural and language barriers often make it difficult for international students to determine whether an offer for help or request for money is real or fake. The most common scams encountered are those involving tuition, immigration 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 that include 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
Contact law enforcement by calling the Ohio State University Police Division at 614-292-2121 or Columbus Police at 614-645-4545
Also contact Ohio State's Office of International Affairs at iss@osu.edu or 614-292-6101

For more guidance on avoiding scams, please visit the scam pages of the Office of International Affairs and of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

If you believe you are the victim of any type of scam or fraudulent activity, please report it to police and also schedule an appointment to speak to an SLS attorney (visit studentlegal.osu.edu or call 614-247-5853).

Scenarios on specific types of scams are outlined below to help our campus community.

Tuition scams

In this scam you are approached or contacted by someone who promises you a discount on your tuition if you pay through that person. The person uses your Ohio State username and password to pay with a credit card and the tuition appears paid in full on your account. You wire the person the tuition amount minus the discount promised. However, the credit card was stolen and Ohio State will reject the payment. You will then still owe the entire tuition amount to Ohio State in order to remain enrolled.

To avoid this scam:

Know that anyone who promises a discount on your tuition is only trying to take advantage of you – if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Never share your Ohio State username and password with anyone
Report all scams to local law enforcement and contact the Ohio State Bursar, Student Legal Services and/or the Office of International Affairs if you suspect a scam, before entering into any agreements with a potential scammer

Immigration scams

This scam starts when you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from a U.S. government agency or police department that tries to scare you into paying money for fines that do not exist. The person usually knows specific information about you like your date of birth. They will say that you owe a fine and requests immediate payment by credit card or electronic transfer. When you ask questions, the person becomes aggressive and threatens you with deportation.

To avoid this scam:

Remember that the Office of International Affairs is your only point of contact regarding your immigration status – the U.S. government or your home country's government will not contact you directly
Know that government agencies in general will never contact you by telephone and demand immediate payment or request that a student wire money for immediate payment
Hang up the phone if you suspect a scam – the caller may try to keep you on the phone, but do not believe any threats
Report all scams to local law enforcement and talk to an attorney at Student Legal Services and/or the Office of International Affairs if you suspect a scam

Employment scams

These occur when you receive an email from what appears to be a legitimate business offering you employment. As part of your "job" duties, you are sent a check from the company. Your employer asks you to deposit the check in your bank account. You are to keep some of the money for your pay and then distribute the remainder as instructed by your employer.

The scam is that the check or money order sent to you is fraudulent. When your bank rejects the funds from your "employer" you will have overdrawn your account and owe your bank fees and the funds deposited.

To avoid this scam:

Remember that you cannot accept any on or off-campus employment without prior approval from an immigration coordinator at the Office of International Affairs
Never provide personal bank account information to anyone
Report all scams to local law enforcement and talk to an attorney at Student Legal Services or Ohio State Police if you suspect a scam

Travel scams

Flight discounts

A travel "broker" promises to book the student's international flights for low costs. The broker requires the student to pay up front in order to secure the tickets. The student gives the broker the money but the broker never provides the promised tickets.

To avoid this scam:

Do your research – search the internet to see if a great deal you find might be a scam
Talk to an attorney at Student Legal Services if you suspect a scam
Do not feel pressured to pay – do not conduct business with a company or person that hurries you to make a payment
Know that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Rental cons

Scammers use fake rental listings through Airbnb and VRBO. The scammer pretending to be the owner will contact you outside of the app, offering you a discount if you wire the payment directly to them instead of booking online. Once you send the money, the owner and the listing disappear and there’s no way to get your money back.

To avoid this scam:

Try copying and pasting the property description into a search engine to see if it appears anywhere else
Only communicate through reputable online booking tools
Check for ratings and other travelers' experiences
Pay any deposits or other upfront payments with a credit card through their booking website – if the charges are fraudulent you can always reach out to your credit card company

Missed a pre-arrival email?

The Office of International Affairs sends weekly pre-arrival emails to address the most important topics for incoming international students and help prepare for your transition to campus. Each email covers different topics you need to know before starting the semester and is archived on our website.

View pre-arrival emails

Additional resources

Visit our website to review information and learn more about life at Ohio State and the United States. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact iss@osu.edu with any immigration questions and global-engagement@osu.edu with general orientation and arrival questions.

Kind regards,
Office of International Affairs

2009 Millikin Road, Columbus, OH 43210

oia@osu.edu

oia.osu.edu

Office of International Affairs

The Ohio State University

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