Case Study

USC students lost $1.6M
to fake government calls.

Scammers posed as Chinese police, IRS agents, and DHS officials, threatening arrest and deportation. suss. flags the threat at 89% risk before they pick up the phone.

International students are the most targeted population on any campus. Here's how suss. protects them at the moment of contact.

Who gets targeted

International students

Attackers exploit fear of deportation and unfamiliarity with U.S. government procedures. Chinese, Indian, and Korean students are disproportionately targeted.

First-generation college students

Less likely to have a family network that recognizes government impersonation tactics. Often hesitant to ask for help.

Students on financial aid

Already anxious about their financial standing. Threats involving FAFSA freezes or IRS audits create immediate panic.

Students living alone

No roommate or family member nearby to provide a second opinion. Scammers exploit physical isolation.

What happened

Spoofed calls from “government agencies”

Attackers called USC students posing as Chinese police officers, IRS agents, and DHS officials. They spoofed official phone numbers to appear legitimate on caller ID.

Threats of arrest and deportation

Students were told they were under criminal investigation. Scammers demanded wire transfers or gift card purchases to “clear their name” and provided fake case numbers and documentation.

$1.6 million in combined losses

Multiple USC students lost tens of thousands of dollars each. Wire transfers and gift card purchases are nearly impossible to reverse once sent.

Source: USC Department of Public Safety

How suss. catches it

We reconstructed the scam message and ran it through our API. Here's what fired.

89%

High Risk

Government Impersonation Scam Detected

6 threat indicators fired

90%

Impersonation of government law enforcement

government_impersonation_law_enforcement

85%

Authority figure impersonation to demand payment

authority_impersonation

85%

Deportation or arrest threat used as pressure

deportation_threat_pressure

80%

Isolation tactic -- told not to tell anyone

isolation_tactic

85%

Gift card payment requested as resolution

gift_card_payment

80%

Wire transfer to unknown account requested

wire_instruction_email

Recommended actions

1Hang up immediately -- real government agencies never call demanding payment
2Call USCIS directly at 1-800-375-5283 to verify any claims about your visa
3Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if they claimed to be the IRS
4Report the call to USC DPS at (213) 740-6000
5Tell a trusted friend, advisor, or the International Students Office -- scammers rely on secrecy
6If you already sent money, contact your bank immediately and file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov

The cost of no protection

$1.6M

Combined student losses

Irreversible

Wire & gift card payments

49K+

USC students at risk

Why this scam works

Caller ID spoofing looks real

Scammers spoof official government phone numbers. The call appears to come from USCIS, IRS, or DHS on the student's phone.

Visa status creates fear

International students know their visa can be revoked. The threat of deportation triggers a panic response that overrides critical thinking.

Isolation is part of the script

"Do not tell anyone about this investigation" cuts off the student's support network. Friends and advisors who would immediately recognize the scam never hear about it.

Fake documentation adds credibility

Scammers send fake case numbers, badges, and official-looking documents. Students unfamiliar with real government procedures can't tell the difference.

Purpose-built impersonation detection

Government Impersonation

Detects fake law enforcement claims, spoofed agency references, and fabricated case numbers targeting students.

Coercion & Threat Patterns

Identifies arrest threats, deportation pressure, and urgency language designed to override rational decision-making.

Payment Diversion

Flags wire transfer demands, gift card payment requests, and cryptocurrency payment instructions -- methods chosen because they're irreversible.

Isolation Tactics

Detects instructions to keep silent, avoid telling friends or family, and not contact the real agency -- classic manipulation patterns.

With suss. vs. without

Without suss.

Call comes in from a spoofed number
Student panics at deportation threat
Told not to tell anyone
Wires $15,000 to "government account"
Buys $5,000 in gift cards
Money gone. No recovery possible.

With suss.

Student forwards voicemail or texts to suss.
AI detects 6 impersonation indicators instantly
89% HIGH RISK verdict with clear explanation
Student sees: "Real agencies never demand payment by phone"
Calls USCIS directly to verify -- confirms scam
$20,000 saved. Student stays safe.

How the pilot works

Deploy via Chrome Enterprise

University IT pushes the suss. extension to all student devices through managed Chrome policy. Zero opt-in friction.

Ambient protection activates

suss. scans emails, messages, and web pages in real time. Students are protected the moment they open their browser.

Threat flagged before action

When a scam message arrives, suss. shows a clear warning with the risk score, specific threat indicators, and what to do next.

Campus dashboard tracks threats

IT security and student affairs see real-time threat data across the student body -- volume, categories, and which populations are being targeted.

Protect your students

Government impersonation scams target students who are already vulnerable. suss. gives them a second opinion before they act.

Start a student pilot Contact us

49,000+ USC students. Thousands of international students. One shared threat surface.

Free 30-day pilot for qualified universities

508

Scam signals

Elder & impersonation

94.5%

Precision

93.2%

Recall

USC students lost $1.6Mto fake government calls.