Stay safe during your time at Kirkwood and in the United States with this helpful information. We hope you never need this information, but if you suspect you're being targeted by someone or by a scam, we provide this information to help you be as proactive as you can.
If you have concerns or questions that this page doesn't cover, call Campus Security 24/7, 365 days a year at 319-398-7777.
In one common scam that frequently targets international students, the caller may identify him/herself as someone in a high position such as a government official, police officer, or USCIS.
They may have personal information about you gathered from social media which makes them sound convincing. The scammer will often try to get you to pay money immediately or face deportation, university dismissal, or dropped classes.
Remember: law enforcement or the government will never call to demand immediate payment or ask for debit or credit card information over the phone.
What should you do? Hang up the phone immediately! The scammer will likely try to keep you on the phone.
Report the scam to the International Programs office, 319-398-5293.
Email scams may come from someone claiming to be in a high position and asking for personal information after clicking on a link.
They also may include links which direct you to log into a site and enter a password or other personal information.
Use caution with emails from unrecognized email addresses and always ask the Global Learning office if you are unsure.
Remember that as an international student your work options are limited and if someone offers you a job that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Scammers may search LinkedIn or other sites to find your interests then offer you a job or ask to meet in person. This is not a typical way for U.S. employers to offer jobs and you should be cautious if this happens to you.
Another employment scam that targets international students is a fake business that offers to help you get a green card or employment authorization card if you pay a fee.
Do not trust these scammers and do not pay them any money.
Learn more about common scams you might encounter: