Special Alerts for International Trainees and Scholars

12/20/24

Dear PSOM Community-

Please see important reminders below from International Student and Scholar Services and BGS.  Best wishes for a safe and restful holiday.

Mike Ostap

 

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Special Alerts for International Trainees

  • Travel & Immigration Guidance
    International Student and Scholar Services has issued important guidance for those who may be traveling over the winter break, including steps to take BEFORE leaving campus due to potential changes to US re-entry policies that may happen with a change in the presidential administration.  Please be sure to review the guidance below carefully:

Additional substantial changes to immigration policies, processing timelines, documentation requirements, and other aspects of the immigration landscape may be possible. Please contact your ISSS advisor if you have questions or concerns – and pay attention to official alerts and news regarding U.S. immigration policies and University guidance. 

  • ALERT: Financial Scam Targeting International Citizens
    There have been reports of Penn international students and scholars being targeted by people pretending to be government officials from IRS (Internal Revenue Service), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), CBP (Customs and Border Protection), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), a U.S. Consulate, law enforcement, or other government agencies. These scam artists who send emails or manipulate their phone numbers to falsely appear to be calling from a true or official agency, deceive people into believing that their immigration status is in jeopardy, and they must pay money or go to a location to avoid arrest. If you should experience phone, email, or other fraud, do not provide any personal information. Please call Penn’s Division of Public Safety (DPS) immediately at 215-573-3333 and notify your assigned ISSS Advisor right away if anyone you do not know is requesting personal information or money from you.
    • Actual U.S. officials never ask you for personal identifying information by phone or email. You should never give someone your personal information such as name, date of birth, address, and bank account.
    • Government agencies will never directly ask you for money. If someone asks you for money, never provide your bank account information, never purchase gift cards for them, and never give out your social security number if you have one. Never wire money to individuals who are unknown to you.
    • Scam artists may sometimes manipulate their phone number so that it appears that they are calling from a true government agency. They may have specific information about you (where you are from, your school etc.) that they discover from public or hacked information so they may appear to be legitimate, but it is best to first contact Penn’s Division of Public Safety.
    • Do not turn over your phone or other electronic devices to someone claiming to be working on behalf of an official. Do not consent to video or audio monitoring.
    • If you are told to meet someone in person or travel to a second location (i.e. CVS, Target, etc.) please instead go directly to the Penn Police Headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street or your closest Police station.

      Read the full alert and guidance here.

 

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E. Michael Ostap, PhD

Professor of Physiology

Interim Senior Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer,

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania