Fake Refugee Resettlement Fee Scam in the United States
Scammers pose as resettlement agency staff or federal officials demanding fees from refugees and asylum seekers in the US to 'process' or 'expedite' resettlement paperwork that is actually free.
Part of: Fake Refugee Resettlement Fee Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
In the United States, refugee resettlement is coordinated through a small number of federally contracted voluntary agencies working with the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. Scammers exploit the confusion many newly arrived refugees and asylum applicants feel about which offices are real, calling or messaging on behalf of fake 'processing centers' that demand payment.
How this scam works on the United States
Fraudsters call or text people awaiting refugee status decisions, claiming to be from a resettlement agency or immigration office and stating that a 'file activation fee' or 'expedited processing fee' must be paid by wire transfer or gift card before an interview or benefits can proceed. They often target people who recently arrived through a specific city's resettlement office and reference real agency names to sound credible.
Another common version targets family members still abroad, telling them a relative's resettlement to the US is being held up pending a payment for 'security clearance' or 'flight booking,' with instructions to send money through informal remittance services that are hard to trace.
Common red flags
- Any request for payment to process a refugee case — legitimate US resettlement services are free
- Caller pressures for wire transfer, gift cards, or cash sent via informal remittance
- Threats that benefits, interviews, or family reunification will be cancelled without payment
- Contact received by phone or text rather than through the assigned resettlement agency caseworker
- Caller cannot provide a callback number matching the official resettlement agency's published contact
- Request made in a rushed, high-pressure tone referencing an urgent deadline
How to protect yourself
- Confirm your actual assigned resettlement agency and caseworker contact details in writing and use only that channel
- Never send money, gift cards, or wire transfers to anyone claiming to process refugee paperwork
- Contact the national resettlement agency's verified hotline directly if you receive a suspicious call
- Ask a trusted community organization or legal aid clinic to verify any unexpected fee request
- Keep copies of all official refugee case correspondence to compare against any new contact
- Warn family members abroad that no US resettlement step legitimately requires a payment
How to report it
- Report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov)
- Report to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Notify your actual resettlement agency so they can alert other refugees in the program
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify that a caller claiming to be from my resettlement agency is real?
Ask for the caller's name and a callback number, then hang up and call your agency using the number from your intake paperwork or the agency's official website, not a number the caller gives you. A legitimate caseworker won't object to you verifying this way, and taking a moment to check costs you nothing.
What if scammers contact my family members overseas instead of me?
Tell relatives abroad that no legitimate step in a US resettlement or family reunification case requires payment, and encourage them to hang up and confirm any claim directly with the agency or embassy before sending anything. Scammers often target overseas family specifically because they're less familiar with how the US process actually works.
Can refusing to pay a scammer put my resettlement case at risk?
No. Refusing to pay does not harm your case, since no legitimate resettlement fee exists in the first place. If you're worried a scammer obtained your case details, tell your actual caseworker so they can note it and watch for related misuse.
Does US refugee resettlement ever require a processing fee?
No. Resettlement services provided through federally contracted agencies are free to refugees. Any request for payment to process, expedite, or activate a case is fraudulent.
What should I do if I already paid?
Contact your actual resettlement agency and local law enforcement immediately, and report the payment method used (wire service or gift card) to that provider, since some can flag or halt pending transfers.