A Fake Story

​Well, I had been thinking that I am pretty considerate about security of my personal information over the internet. I never give away my social security information unless I validate the source. I am considerate about the places (websites) where I give my email address, cell number or other such information until this occurred!

I got a call from a person claiming to be from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. I have given a complete account below. Fortunately for me, I got out of it before it could harm me, financially or otherwise. It could have ended up either me compromising my secured information thereby leading to identity theft or me send some of my hard earned dollars to some unknown person.

One fine morning I got a call. The number flashed was "Emergency Number". I was surprised but did not let it bother me as I was expecting a call from offshore and my cell phone flashes all sort of different names like "Unknown", "Number Blocked" or a couple other numbers when they call me.

A man with some funny Non-American accent greeted me. He knew my name.

Person Over the Phone (POP): Mr. ............, there is ​some problem over here. It has come to our notice that you have not updated your Alien number with Indian Embassy.

Me: What is that? I am not aware of this process.

POP: It has to be done after immigration. It was clearly written over the I-94 form.

Me: This is second time I am here. I had not done this the first time.

POP: It is a new process and was clearly written and conveyed at the time of immigration.

I was thinking that this has to do something with the new electronic I-94 process which had started after I arrived here.

Me: How do I know if this is not a fake call?

POP: Where are you?

I told my city name.

POP: Where Exactly?

Not trying to give any of my details, I again repeated my city name.

POP: Are you at home or your work place?

Me: Work place

POP: Do you have internet connection?

Me: Yes.

POP: Open this website: https://www.uscis.gov

He made me search for alien number and read out what that was. Then he asked me to navigate to the contact us page.

POP: What is the number on this page?

Me: 1800 375 5283.

POP: What is the number flashing on your cell phone.

Me: (I checked the number now, it was 911! I started taking this man seriously now) Its 911.

POP: See! We had been trying to contact you from this (the 1-800 number) and you were not picking up our calls. Hence, I had to route this call through 911.

Me: I have never received calls from this number.

POP (Reads out my residence address in India): Is this your address?

Me: Yes.

POP: The Indian Embassy has been sending letters to this address and you have not replied to any one of them. Hence, they escalated this case to the American Embassy in New Delhi, which is why I am calling you.

Me: I have not received any letters at this address.

​Given that the call was from 911, and this guy knew my name, cell number and Indian ​address I had started believing that there might have been some process that I had missed out at the time of immigration. I thought probably the embassy might have mis-typed the address, which is why I might not have received the letters.

POP: You are not replying to the letters, you are not picking up our calls, how do we not think that you are upto something illegal?

Me: I have not been avoiding calls deliberately and I am pretty sure that I have not received the letters at my address in India. Let me know what is the process to be followed to resolve this case.

POP: Do you have all your documents with you?

Me: No. 

I thought he might ask me to fill in a form online and update the alien number with the Indian / American Embassy.

POP: You will have to have your documents ready with you. I will verify them and you will have to be deported to India. You will have to go to American Embassy in New Delhi and complete the documentation and pay a fine. Then you can come back to USA.

I was trying to digest what he was saying.

POP: Our officers will come to your work place and escort you to the airport. They will hand you the ticket to New Delhi. You will have to leave United States of America in next 24 hours.

I was  trying to think if there was such a process. I thought of all those people who came to US after me. I did not remember anyone talking about this process. I had a strong suspicion about the call, but I could not just hung up a call from 911. Also, my cell phone had disabled the mute function as the call was with 911. So, I wrote a note to my colleague and explained the call in brief. I asked him to call our manager.

Me: I will have to talk to my employer.

POP: Your employer cannot help you. You had filled the I-94 while entering United States of America and you had been notified about the process. Was it you or your employer that had signed the I-94?

Me: It was me. But may of my friends have been here after me. I haven't heard of this process from anyone of them.

POP: Your friends do not have your social number. They do not get your dollars. Do they?

Me: NO.

POP: So, I am not concerned about your friends. I have your case at hand so lets talk about you.

Me: Yes, but, I would not do such a thing deliberately. My employer would have notified me about such important process. Let me talk to them.

POP: You cannot talk about this with anybody. It will be of no use. Even if you have your employer or attorney talk on your behalf, the processing with take time and we will have to deport you immediately. If we deport you, you will not be allowed to enter United States of America for next 20 years. Do you understand that?

Me: Yes.

POP: And if we have a suspicion that you are into some illegal activities, we will put a black mark on your passport. In that case you will not be allowed to travel any other country in the world. What do you want yo do?

Me: Maybe, I will follow your directions.

POP: Maybe?? So you are not sure about it? You want to choose not to follow the process?

Me: No, No. I will follow the process. I will follow your directions.

POP: OK. You cannot hung up this call. You cannot mute this call. Someone from our side will be connected to you all the time. 

This call is being recorded and monitored.

Me: Ok.

POP: I will transfer this call to the state police department and they will handle your case.

Me: OK.

The call went blank for about 20 seconds.

Another person with similar accent greeted me.

POP: Hello. This is state police. How can I help you?

Me: My name is ........................ I had get a call from USCIS about a case.

POP: Yes Mr. .................... Your case has been escalated to American Embassy and has been routed to us.

I was wondering about the sudden change. One second he was greeting me and asking me if I needed any help, the other second he has all the information about my case. And he recalls the case just by hearing my name!

POP: You will have to escorted to the airport in next 24 hours. Our officers will come to your place to escort you to airport. Do you have your documents with you?

Me: No.

POP: Where are they?

Me: At my home.

POP: How far is it from your workplace?

Me: Not very far.

POP: OK, you collect your documents and be ready at your workplace. Our officers will come to your work place to escort you to the airport.

I was not sure what to do. I was thinking that I will follow the instructions till there was no immediate threat to me.

Me: I do not have a car. My friend gives me a ride.

POP: Then get a cab and collect your documents. I will verify them.

Me: But I cannot leave suddenly. I will have to talk to my manager.

POP: Tell him you have some personal work. You cannot tell him about this call.

Me: I am not sure, I will have to explain him the urgency to go home.

POP: Mr. ..................., If we deport you, you will not be able to enter United States for next 20 years. Also, We can put a black mark on your passport and you will not be able to travel to any country in the world.

Me: I will have to call the cab, my phone is occupied. What should I do? Should I disconnect the call and call the cab? You can call me back in half hour. I will collect my documents by then.

POP: Put me on hold and call the cab.

I was wondering the earlier guy said I cannot put the call on hold, and this guy was ok if I put him on hold.

I put him on hold. My colleague had called my employer by then. I talked to him. He told me not to entertain these guys. They were fake and even if they are genuine, I should ask them to talk to my employer.

I turned to my phone and found that it had been disconnected by then.

I thought over the conversation and found a few mistakes which a government official would never commit.

I received a call once again in the evening. This time I was confident. The person on the other end explained same bullshit about a problem with my immigration. This time the call was from 1800 number.

So, based on my earlier experience, I asked him for his identity as a government official i.e. for his name, department, badge number etc. He tried to fool me by asking me to navigate to USCIS website’s contact us page.

I learnt from discussions with my seniors, friends after the call in morning that you don't have to be Ankit Fadia to mask your number while calling.

I persisted my question about his identity. He then abused and hung up the call.

 

Its funny how simple information like cell number, name and address can be used to manipulate you!

My experience reiterates the need to safeguard private and personal information!

Be safe!!