Indian student duped by fake immigration officials in US, loses $5,000: Report

An Indian student in the US was scammed out of USD 5,000 (approx Rs 4.29 lah) by individuals posing as federal immigration officers, Newsweek reported.

Shreya Bedi, a UI Designer pursuing her master’s degree, told Newsweek she was deceived by scammers posing as officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Bedi came to the US on an F-1 visa in 2022 to pursue a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction at Indiana University Bloomington.

On May 29, Bedi received a phone call from someone claiming to be an officer with ICE. The scammer told her that she hadn’t reported her administration number and convinced her that she was violating immigration laws. This pressured her into purchasing USD 5,000 worth of gift cards as “bond” payments to avoid arrest and deportation.

“I was absolutely terrified and crying the entire time,” Bedi said.

The caller identified himself with a name and badge number, instructing Bedi to verify his identity through ICE’s official website. She found that the phone number matched a legitimate ICE office in Maryland, seemingly confirming the call’s authenticity. But it was part of an elaborate hoax.

The scam escalated when a second caller, spoofing a number from the Olympia Police Department, claimed there was an active warrant for her arrest unless ICE confirmed her case was under investigation. The callers instructed Bedi to stay on the phone and warned her not to contact anyone, claiming her phone was being monitored.

“They kept me on the phone for three hours straight, repeatedly warning me that hanging up or contacting anyone would make things worse,” Bedi said. “I felt completely trapped.”

Under pressure and fearing deportation, Bedi followed their instructions, purchasing USD 5,000 worth of Apple and Target gift cards and sharing the codes over the phone. The scammers told her a police officer would collect the cards and bond papers the next day. That call never came.

It was only later that day, after speaking with a friend who found similar scam stories online, that Bedi realised she had been defrauded.

“They put me through hours of psychological torture, making me believe I was going to be deported and arrested,” she said.

What made the scam believable, Bedi noted, was how much personal information the callers had: her port of entry, educational background, and even specific details about her hometown in India.

The emotional and financial toll has been severe for Bedi. Already managing student loan debt, she now faces an additional USD 5,000 in credit card payments. “I’m living alone in the US with no family support. This money was supposed to help me stay afloat and plan my future here. It completely derailed my plans,” she said.

An ICE spokesperson told Newsweek, “ICE strongly condemns the impersonation of its officers or agents. This action is not only dangerous, but illegal. Imposters can be charged with various criminal offences both at the state/local level, and federally (under 18 USC 912).”

Bedi has since launched a GoFundMe campaign and is sharing her story to warn other international students. “You always have the right to hang up and call a lawyer. No legitimate government agency will ever ask for gift cards or sensitive personal details over the phone,” she said.

“As international students, we don’t fully understand how the system works here, which makes us easy targets. I feel embarrassed that I fell for this, but I want others to learn from my mistake,” she added.

Under Donald Trump’s administration, ICE has ramped up arrests across the country. Amid increased enforcement action, there has also been a rise in reports of individuals impersonating ICE agents.