Hyderabad: Cases of cyber threats and blackmail targeting the Indian diaspora in the United States have risen sharply, according to recent data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Complaints surged dramatically from just eight in 2024 to 613 in 2025.Immigration lawyers, consultants, and members of the diaspora say many of these complaints are linked to heightened scrutiny and policy changes introduced by the US authorities in 2025. These developments have created uncertainty among visa holders, making them more vulnerable to scams.“I have seen a noticeable rise in scams and cyber fraud specifically targeting F-1 students and H-1B visa holders. These schemes often exploit fear and uncertainty around immigration status, especially issues like SEVIS terminations, visa revocations, delays in renewals, and, more recently, the widespread cancellation and lack of availability of visa appointments for H-1B and H-4 nationals,” said Ana Gabriela Urizar, an immigration attorney based out of Washington, the US.Victims have reported receiving calls from individuals impersonating officials from the US immigration agencies such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Some scammers also pose as representatives of fake law firms or even the Indian embassy. Callers often cite discrepancies in immigration records and threaten deportation or legal action.A student from Hyderabad currently in Texas recounted receiving a call from someone claiming to be from ICE. “They said my admission number was not updated and questioned me aggressively. When I challenged them, they threatened arrest if I did not comply,” said the student, adding that the number was eventually blocked.In another case, scammers targeted family members in India. “They told my parents I had been arrested for theft and even played a voice that sounded like me crying,” said another immigrant from Hyderabad in Delaware. Alarmed, his father transferred Rs 50,000 before realising it was a fraud when further demands were made for another one lakh.Experts say such scams rely heavily on fear and urgency, often pressuring victims into making immediate payments.‘Verify such claims through official channels’ Urizar shared that in several cases she has handled, individuals were contacted by scammers posing as govt officials, threatening deportation, visa revocation, or permanent bars unless immediate payment was made. “What makes these scams particularly dangerous is how tailored they are. Scammers are using real immigration terminology, spoofed phone numbers, and even referencing current policy disruptions, like the visa appointment backlog, to make their threats feel credible and urgent,” she said, adding that individuals should independently verify any such claims through official channels and avoid sharing personal or financial information over unsolicited calls.
