Avoid I-9 Email And Phishing Scams

Stay alert for emails sent from the address news@uscis.gov that appear to come from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) information. Employers do not have to submit Forms I-9 to USCIS. Here’s a few tips on how to avoid I-9 email and phishing scams.

U.S. Form I-9 contains sensitive personal identifying information such as:

• Employee’s full legal name
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number or Alien Number.

These emails are part of a phishing scam and the USCIS advises employers not to respond to these emails or to click on the links in them.

If you have received a scam email, you should report the incident on the FTC Complaint Assistant web page on the Federal Trade Commission’s website: Click Here To Report Fraudulent Email

Any employers who uncertain if they have received a fraudulent email should forward the suspicious email to the USCIS webmaster: USCIS.Webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov

The email will then be reviewed and if appropriate shared with law enforcement. Remember, never send unsecured forms or other documents containing personally identifiable information. This holds true even if the request appears to come from a legitimate source.