Understanding The US Investor Visa Scam

The investor program has been one of the most popular immigration pathways for foreigners since its inception in 1990. Foreigners with eligible funds can invest up to US$1.05 million in a commercial enterprise that creates jobs or up to US$800,000 in a business in a rural or highly unemployed area under the regional center program.

The investor program provides a relatively easy pathway to green cards for individuals and their families. It also provides an opportunity to naturalize as an American citizen eventually.

As the number of US investor visa applicants has increased over the past 30 years, so has the number of criminal actors who seek to defraud these applicants of their investment money – a problem that has only grown worse in an era of misinformation.

These US investor visa scams take many forms, and fraudsters use various tactics to trick and steal from their victims. Recently, immigrating immigrants who are not familiar with the US government systems or who don’t speak fluent English are at risk of being scammed.

US investor visa scams can affect non-citizens just as much as citizens. The US investor visa fraudsters are well aware of the complexity of the immigration process. They exploit this complexity to their advantage.

With that in mind, you need to be aware of the security threats and common US investor visa scams. US investor visa scams are the most common type of fraud in investor programs.

Therefore, it is essential to be vigilant throughout the application process to ensure that your process goes smoothly and avoid falling victim to US investor visa scams.

If you are facing an immigration problem and want to make sure you don’t lose money or more, contact experienced and reliable immigration lawyers. This blog will look at some of the top immigration US investor visa scams and how to avoid them.

What is an investment scam?

An investment scam occurs when a fraudster attempts to deceive you into investing your money. They may ask you to invest your money in a stock, bond, note, commodity, currency, or real estate.

A fraudster may deceive or give you false information about a genuine investment. They may also create a fake investment opportunity to deceive you. An investment fraudster may pose as a telemarketer or financial advisor.

They may appear to be intelligent, friendly, and attractive. They may tell you that there is an urgent investment opportunity that needs your attention.

They will try to gain your trust so that you will give them money quickly and without asking too many questions. You should be wary of US investor visa scams.

Popular scams

1. Phone scams.

The telephone scam is the most common type of immigration US investor visa scams. In this scam, you may receive a call from an agent pretending to be USCIS or some other government official. They may ask for your personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account number, or Passport number.

They may also ask you to pay over the phone to resolve a “procedure” related to your investment immigration case or to expedite its processing.

The USCIS will never call you over the phone asking you to pay. If you are the victim of a telephone scam, you should reject the caller’s offer and avoid giving out any personal information.

2. Job scams.

You should be suspicious if you receive a job offer in the US via email from a company you have not applied to. Some scammers ask you to pay to get a job offer.

Remember that you cannot work in the US without employment-related visas, work permits, green cards, or citizenship. Employers who claim otherwise are likely deceiving you.

This is a common US investor visa scam used to deceive people looking for work in the US. While scammers may offer you a job placement for a fee, legitimate job offers don’t require you to pay upfront.

These job offers may come to you in the mail but can also be posted on job boards or websites. A legitimate job offer or listing may provide you with an expedited green card or work visa, granted only by government agencies and on a case-by-case basis.

Be wary of jobs that look too good to be true, especially if they offer a high salary and no experience required. Scammers often try to get personal information by asking for sensitive information before offering a job, such as your social security number or bank account number.

Research the company and job offer to protect yourself from this US investor visa scam. Visit the company’s official website and look for reviews or information related to the company.

Contact them directly using their official contact information if the company is well-known.

3. Group scams.

US investor visa scams can also target groups. These types of scams are frauds that target people who have joined a group based on a shared trait like age, race, religion, etc.

The scammer pretends to be a group member to gain the trust of group leaders and other group members. The scammer hopes that other group members will follow suit once the group leader can invest in the fraudulent scheme.

4. High-profit scams.

Fraudsters tell investors that they will get a high return on their investment. They say that you will get a guaranteed return on your investment. These investments are often fake, or they are actually selling stocks that are worth next to nothing.

5. Marketing/ponzi scams.

Scammers will claim that a small investment will result in a large payoff or profit. However, you will need to find other investors to invest with you.

The “reward” you receive is actually just money paid out by other investors. A scammer’s scheme collapses when they run out of new investors or when they take all the money and flee.

A fraudster, typically a portfolio manager, claims to invest your money and earn large payouts. However, the investment you receive is, in fact, other investors’ money. The fraud ends when the scammer can no longer find new investors to invest with.

6. Pump and dump scams.

Scammers buy low-priced stocks and deceive buyers about the quality of stocks to increase their price. Investors may believe the stocks are good investments, so they buy them at a high price.

The scammers then sell off the stock at a higher price, causing the stock price to drop, leaving the buyer with worthless stocks.

7. Double scams.

In this US investor visa scam, the scammers claim they will help you recoup money you lost in other investments, but they ask you to pay first. Once you pay, they do nothing.

8. Bad product scams.

Sometimes, a financial advisor may attempt to sell you a product or service that makes them rich but unsuitable for you. For example, a financial product such as an annuity may take years or even decades to earn you the money you promised.

You may be charged a high fee to withdraw your account. Generally, some financial advisers may charge you for services you did not receive or products you did not request.

How does the US investor visa scam work?

There are three ways the US investor visa scams work.

1. The investment is fake.
2. The investment actually exists, but the money you pay the scammer is not going toward that investment.
3. The scammer claims to represent a reputable company – but they are lying.

In all cases, the money you ‘invest’ in the US investor visa scam goes straight to the scammer’s bank account and not to any real investment. It is very difficult to get your money back if it goes to an offshore scammer. As an investor, you should be careful because every investor is a potential victim of the US investor visa scam, and each scam is different.

Sources of investment scams

US investor visa scams can come from a variety of sources. The most common are:

1. Phone calls.
2. Social media.
3. Email messages.
4. Text messages.
5. Website scams.
6. Dating apps.
7. Romance baiting.
8. Paid advertising.
9. Website scams.
10. Fake investment trading platforms.

In all the US investor visa scams from these sources, once you deposit your money, it is out of your control.

What do these scammers offer?

A scammer may claim to offer:

1. Quick and easy investment returns, sometimes tax-free.
2. Investments in stocks, cryptocurrencies, mortgages, real estate, or virtual investments.
3. Very ‘high returns.’
4. Options trading/foreign currency trading.
5. Commissions to build their client base and get others to invest.
6. An opportunity with no risk/low risk because you:
7. will be able to sell at any time.
8. will receive a refund if non-performance is found.
9. will have insured or ‘guaranteed’ transactions.
10. will have the ability to swap any investment for another.
11. will have inside information about initial public offerings.
12. will offer discounts for early bird investors.
13. will pretend to be a real company to pitch their offer.

How to protect yourself from US investor visa scams

Before making a purchase, verify that the broker is licensed or that no complaints have been filed against them. Always read and comprehend the investment before making a purchase. Always request written disclosure.

Always ask the salesperson for the salesperson’s name and the company’s name and address when making an investment. Always read the salesperson’s and company’s financial statements before making an investment.

Never invest with an investment firm or salesperson who claims to be “senior certified” or “retirement consultants.” Finally, it is crucial to discuss this with an immigration lawyer.

Get help!

If you think you may be a victim of a US investor visa scam, don’t give out any personal or financial details. First, file a report with the FTC or USCIS regarding the incident.

Then, contact the attorneys at Gehi and Associates and see if you can get the compensation you are entitled to. Learn more about our services, or schedule a consultation today by contacting us.