Health, Safety, and Wellness
Avoiding Fraud
Avoiding Fraud
Protecting Yourself From Fraud, Scams, and Theft
The InterExchange orientation and support materials provide useful advice on protecting yourself from identity theft and money fraud. Review this information, know your rights, and always be prepared to protect yourself.
If someone you don’t know contacts you and requests your personal information (e.g. by phone, by email, through social media), do not share any information without verifying the person’s identity. We recommend you do the following:
- Tell the person “I can’t share any information with you at this time, but I’d like to know some information about you…”
- Ask questions about the caller. If a person asks for your information but refuses to share details about themselves, it is unlikely they are contacting you for a legitimate reason.
- Request the following information: the reason they’re requesting your information, first and last names, the phone number they’re calling from, their email address, the company or agency they claim to represent, and their badge number or official ID number if they claim to be law enforcement or a government official.
- Share details about this person with the program staff at InterExchange if you have any concerns about sharing your personal information.
If someone claiming to represent a government agency contacts you and tells you that you must pay additional fees, do not give them any money or credit card information. Call InterExchange or the local police department.
Please also review common fraud schemes on the FBI website and learn how to recognize and avoid scams.
Protect Your Documents
Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of an emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home. It is always a good idea to let at least one person know exactly where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Carry the other copy with you, stored separately from the originals. Documents to make copies of include:
- Passport ID page
- J-1 Visa
- Social Security Card
- Itinerary
- Hotel confirmation
- Airline ticket
- Driver’s license
- Credit cards brought on the trip
Prepare to Handle Money
- Check and understand the exchange rate before you travel.
- Before you depart from your home country, notify your bank, credit card company, or other financial institutions that you are temporarily relocating to the U.S. You should also notify them anytime you travel overseas.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and consider using major credit cards instead (but make sure they are accepted wherever you are traveling).
- Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill.
If You Lose Your Passport
If you lose your visa, you can remain in the U.S. for the duration of your authorized stay, as shown on your electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. However, you will need a valid passport to depart the United States and to enter other countries.
If you lose your passport during your program, you will need to contact your country’s embassy or consulate for a replacement. If you plan to leave and re-enter the U.S. after receiving a new passport, you will need to apply for a new J-1 visa before you can return to the U.S. If you lose your DS-2019 form, contact InterExchange.
