In an email sent on January 31, USC warned students about a spoofing scam in which callers pretend to be from USC Admissions, falsely claiming to be contacting students about immigration issues. The university made it clear in the Community Safety Advisory email that these calls are not real and have no connection to USC.
“If you receive one of these calls, disregard it and report it to EEO-TIX,” the advisory states. USC’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed that the administration has received multiple complaints about the scam.
DPS Chief David Carlisle reassured students that there is no reason to believe immigration officials are targeting USC students. He said in a phone interview with Annenberg Media that the “Community Safety Advisory” email was sent out to dispel the possibility that immigration officials were targeting Trojans.
Similar scams have targeted college students across the country, especially students who are worried about their immigration status. In Nashville County, North Carolina, Nash County Public Schools issued a press release that warned of fraudulent emails regarding ICE agents potentially pulling children from classrooms, creating fear for immigrant families. Over the weekend, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a Temple University student was arrested for allegedly posing as an ICE agent, according to a press release by the University.
The email from USC DPS recommended that those who feel in danger should find a safe space and report the incident to law enforcement.