In 2025, phone scams are becoming more sophisticated, with a noticeable rise in those specifically targeting immigrants. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), immigrants are often vulnerable due to language barriers, lack of familiarity with U.S. systems, and fear of deportation or legal issues. These scams frequently exploit these fears and cultural nuances to extract money or personal information.
Top Scam Tactics Used Against Immigrants
Immigrants are targeted through a variety of phone-based frauds. Some of the most common include:
- Social Security Number (SSN) Fraud: Callers claim that the recipient’s SSN has been suspended or linked to criminal activity.
- Fake Immigration Officer Calls: Impersonators claim to be from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), threatening deportation unless a payment is made.
- Visa Renewal or Green Card Scam: Victims are asked to pay processing fees over the phone to “expedite” or “fix” visa or green card issues.
The Rise of AI Voice Cloning in Scam Calls
With AI voice synthesis tools becoming more accessible, scammers can now clone voices of real people to impersonate family members, officials, or even attorneys. This is especially dangerous for immigrants who may rely on long-distance calls to stay in touch with relatives. Victims may receive a call that appears to be from a known contact, only to be manipulated into sending money urgently.
Spoofed Government Numbers: When the Call “Looks” Legit
Spoofing technology enables scammers to fake legitimate phone numbers. A call might appear to come from the IRS, the Department of Homeland Security, or even a local police department. When combined with official-sounding scripts, this can be very convincing.
Example of common spoofed sources:
| Spoofed Caller ID | Impersonated Agency | Common Claim |
| +1-800-375-5283 | USCIS | Visa issues, need for urgent payment |
| +1-202-622-5000 | IRS | Tax fraud warning or missed payments |
| Local area code | Local police or sheriff office | Arrest warrant due to unpaid fines or fraud |
To verify official government contact numbers, use the USA.gov directory.
Cultural & Language Barriers Exploited
Many immigrant-targeted scams rely on language barriers and unfamiliarity with legal rights. Scammers may:
- Speak the victim’s native language to gain trust.
- Demand secrecy or claim the issue must be resolved quickly.
- Pretend the victim is in legal trouble, leveraging fear.
Organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center provide multilingual resources to help communities spot and report these scams.
Latest Data: Scam Call Trends Among Immigrant Communities
Recent data from the FTC and Better Business Bureau (BBB) shows:
- Over 35% of phone scam complaints in 2024 were filed by foreign-born individuals.
- Immigrants from Latin America and South Asia reported the highest losses.
- The median loss for scam victims in these groups was $950, compared to the $500 median across all demographics.
Sources:
Tips to Recognize and Handle These Scams
Immigrants and their families should be alert to red flags such as:
- Urgent language: Threats of deportation, arrest, or loss of benefits.
- Unusual payment requests: Demands for wire transfers, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Requests for personal information: Such as SSNs, passport numbers, or banking details.
Best practices include:
- Hang up and verify through official websites.
- Never make payments over the phone unless you initiated the contact.
- Report suspicious calls to FTC (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/) or local authorities.
What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted
Victims should not feel ashamed—scams are designed to manipulate emotions. Steps to take:
- Report the scam immediately to the FTC.
- Contact your bank if you made a payment.
- Notify immigration attorneys or community support organizations.
- Inform friends and family to raise awareness.
How RealCall Can Help Immigrants Stay Protected
While education is crucial, technology also plays a key role in prevention. RealCall is an advanced call management app that:
- Automatically blocks 99% of spam, robocalls, and scam calls before they ring.
- Identifies suspicious callers with real-time warnings like “Scam Risk.”
- Offers a constantly updated scam number database.
- Allows users to build personal whitelists and blacklists to control who gets through.
While no app can stop every threat, combining RealCall’s protection with awareness and caution significantly reduces risk for immigrant communities.
Conclusion
As scammers evolve, so must our defenses. By staying informed, verifying before acting, and using intelligent tools like RealCall, immigrants can better protect themselves and their loved ones in an increasingly hostile digital landscape.