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 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.

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What happened
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
SourceUSC Department of Public Safety ↗
What it cost
$1.6M
Combined student losses
Irreversible
Wire & gift card payments
49K+
USC students at risk
What suss. would have surfaced

A signed record, before the wire.

suss. interaction recordFlagged
Government Impersonation Scam Detected

This is the kind of message your people see, before they act on it. Plain guidance, not a number.

  • Hang up immediately. Real government agencies never call demanding payment.
  • Call USCIS directly at 1-800-375-5283 to verify any claims about your visa.
  • Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if they claimed to be the IRS.
  • Report the call to USC DPS at (213) 740-6000.
  • Tell a trusted friend, advisor, or the International Students Office. Scammers rely on secrecy.
  • If you already sent money, contact your bank immediately and file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
signed9c2f…e7a1· queryable record
Why this keeps happening

Why this scam works on international students.

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 panic 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 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 cannot tell the difference.
The divergence
Without suss.
  1. Call comes in from a spoofed number.
  2. Student panics at the deportation threat.
  3. Told not to tell anyone.
  4. Wires $15,000 to a government account.
  5. Buys $5,000 in gift cards.
  6. Money gone. No recovery possible.
With suss.
  1. Student forwards voicemail or texts to suss.
  2. API detects 6 impersonation indicators instantly.
  3. 89% HIGH RISK verdict with a clear explanation.
  4. Student sees: real agencies never demand payment by phone.
  5. Calls USCIS directly to verify. Confirms scam.
  6. $20,000 saved. Student stays safe.

Want this catching the next one before it ships?

This is a documented incident with a public source. The next one is in someone's inbox right now. suss. is what catches it.

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