The appropriate agency to report persons who are residing illegally in the United States is the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). You may report any suspicious activity or make a confidential report of an immigration or customs violation by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423). You can also complete the Online Tip Form: www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form

For more information, please visit the ICE website.

You can also report Crimes, Suspicious Activity and Suspected Child Exploitation of Missing Children to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).

By Phone (from U.S. and Canada): 1 (866) 347-2423
By Phone (from Chile): +1 (802) 872-6199
By Phone (TTY for hearing impaired only): +1 (802) 872-6196
By Online Tip Form: www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form

It depends on the type of illegal activity and the state where the illegal activity is taking place, but the activity should be reported directly to the applicable U.S. Government agency.  For example, if you want to report someone using a false social security number, contact the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Here is some useful contact information for U.S. Government agencies that deal with illegal activity:

• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Medicare
• Social Security Administration

Additionally, you can use the information below to learn where to report other common scams.

Report Social Security and Tax Imposter Scams

Report Social Security imposters online to SSA’s Inspector General. Call 1-800-269-0271 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, ET) to report by phone.

If your Social Security card is stolen, contact your local police department to file a theft report. You should also contact the Regional Federal Benefit Unit directly to request a replacement Social Security card. Your Social Security number will not change.

You may find more information on the Social Security Administration website: https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/.

Report IRS imposters to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). To report by phone, call TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484.

Report suspected tax fraud to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You may be eligible to claim a Whistleblower Informant Award for reporting the fraud. Report state tax fraud to your state’s department of revenue or other tax authority.

Tax-related identity (ID) theft is another form of tax fraud. It happens when someone steals your Social Security number to get a tax refund. Report this type of fraud using form 14039 (PDF, Download Adobe Reader).

If you receive threatening calls or emails claiming to be from the IRS, report the fraud to the IRS online or by calling 1-800-366-4484. Forward any website links that claim to be the IRS, but don’t start with “www.irs.gov” to phishing@irs.gov.

Report Online and International Scams

Report fake websites, emails, malware, and other internet scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Some online scams start outside the United States. If you have been a victim of an international scam, report it through econsumer.gov. Your report helps international consumer protection offices spot trends and prevent scams.

Report Disaster and Emergency Scams

Report coronavirus scams and other scams about disasters and emergencies.

• Contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.
• Find more information on identifying and reporting coronavirus scams.

Report Common Financial Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report your scam online with the FTC complaint assistant, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, ET). The FTC accepts complaints about most scams, including these popular ones:

• Phone calls
• Emails
• Computer support scams
• Imposter scams
• Fake checks
• Demands for you to send money (check, wire transfers, gift cards)
• Student loan or scholarship scams
• Prize, grants, and sweepstakes offers

The FTC also collects reports of identity theft. Report identity theft online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, ET).

The Fraud Prevention Unit does not verify information related to companies in the United States. There are, however, publicly available services to research companies, such as the Better Business Bureau, Dun & Bradstreet, Yelp, and various state business registries.

The consequences of fraud are extremely serious. Visa applicants who commit fraud will not only lose the immigration benefit they are seeking, they will become permanently ineligible to enter the United States. Both American citizens and foreign travelers involved in fraud may be subject to severe fines, or even be sentenced to jail, depending on the criminal nature and severity of the fraud.

Embassy Santiago’s Fraud Prevention Unit investigates all types of consular-related fraud, collaborating with our three units: American Citizen Services, Immigrant Visas, and Nonimmigrant Visas. Further, the Fraud Prevention Unit partners with the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively pursues fraud cases, referring individuals as appropriate for prosecution under U.S. and/or Chilean law.

Below are written warnings against fraud drawn from applications for our most common consular services. The warnings speak for themselves.

On the DS-11 (Application for a U.S. Passport or Registration) and the DS-82 (Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail), you will find the following warning:

False statements made knowingly and willfully in passport applications or in affidavits or other supporting documents submitted therewith are punishable by fine and/or imprisonment under provisions of 18 U.S.C. 1001 and/or 18 U.S.C. 1542. Alteration or mutilation of a passport issued pursuant to this application is punishable by fine and and/or imprisonment under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 1543. The use of a passport in violation of the restrictions contained therein or of the passport regulations is punishable by fine and/or imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. 1544. All statements and documents submitted are subject to verification.

Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) contains the following warning:

The Department of Homeland Security investigates claimed relationships and verifies the validity of documents.  The Department of Homeland Security seeks criminal prosecutions when family relationships are falsified to obtain visas.  Penalties:  You may, by law be imprisoned for not more than five years, or fined $250,000, or both, for entering into a marriage contract for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws and you may be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned up to five years or both, for knowingly and willfully falsifying or concealing a material fact or using any false document in submitting this petition.

Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) contains the following certification that the applicant must sign:

I certify that I have read and understood all the questions set forth in this application and the answers I have furnished on this form are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that any false or misleading statement may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial or entry into the United States.  I understand that possession of a visa does not automatically entitle the bearer to enter the United States of America upon arrival at a port of entry if he or she is found inadmissible.