90%
Impersonation of government law enforcement
government_impersonation_law_enforcement
Case Study — University
USC students lost $1.6M
to fake government calls.
Scammers posed as Chinese police, IRS agents, and DHS officials. Threats of arrest and deportation. Payments by wire and gift card. The suss. API scores this attack at 89% risk before the student ever picks up the phone.
International students are the single most targeted population on any campus. Here is how suss. intervenes at the moment of contact.
What happened
The attack.
01
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.
02
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, with fake case numbers and official-looking documentation.
03
$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
Detection
What suss.
would have seen.
We ran a reconstructed version of this attack through the production API. Here's what fired.
suss. verdict
89%
HIGH RISK
Government Impersonation Scam Detected
6 threat indicators fired
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
- 01Hang up immediately. Real government agencies never call demanding payment.
- 02Call USCIS directly at 1-800-375-5283 to verify any claims about your visa.
- 03Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if they claimed to be the IRS.
- 04Report the call to USC DPS at (213) 740-6000.
- 05Tell a trusted friend, advisor, or the International Students Office. Scammers rely on secrecy.
- 06If you already sent money, contact your bank immediately and file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Impact
The cost.
$1.6M
Combined student losses
Irreversible
Wire & gift card payments
49K+
USC students at risk
Pattern
Why this scam works on international students.
01
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.
02
Visa status creates fear
International students know their visa can be revoked. The threat of deportation triggers panic that overrides critical thinking.
03
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 recognize the scam never hear about it.
04
Fake documentation adds credibility
Scammers send fake case numbers, badges, and official-looking documents. Students unfamiliar with real government procedures cannot tell the difference.
With vs without
Two timelines.
Two outcomes.
Without suss.
- 01Call comes in from a spoofed number.
- 02Student panics at the deportation threat.
- 03Told not to tell anyone.
- 04Wires $15,000 to a government account.
- 05Buys $5,000 in gift cards.
- 06Money gone. No recovery possible.
With suss.
- 01Student forwards voicemail or texts to suss.
- 02API detects 6 impersonation indicators instantly.
- 0389% HIGH RISK verdict with a clear explanation.
- 04Student sees: real agencies never demand payment by phone.
- 05Calls USCIS directly to verify. Confirms scam.
- 06$20,000 saved. Student stays safe.
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