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What to do if…
you receive a call or message claiming to be from an embassy about your passport and it asks for personal details

Short answer

Stop responding and do not share any personal details. Verify by contacting the embassy/consulate using contact information you look up yourself (not what the caller/text provided).

Do not do these things

  • Don’t share your passport number, Social Security number, date of birth, address, or photos/scans of documents.
  • Don’t share one-time passcodes, login codes, or “verification codes” for any account.
  • Don’t click links or open attachments from the message, even if it looks official.
  • Don’t trust caller ID; official-looking numbers can be spoofed.
  • Don’t send money via wire transfer, crypto, or gift cards because someone claims it’s required “right now”.

What to do now

  1. End the contact. Hang up or stop replying. If it’s a robocall, don’t press any numbers.
  2. Save evidence without engaging. Screenshot texts/emails, save voicemail, and write down the number, date/time, and the exact claim (“passport issue”, “immigration hold”, “pay a fee”, etc.).
  3. Verify using official channels you find yourself (not from the message).
    • Look up the embassy/consulate’s public contact details on official government sources, then call the main switchboard and ask for consular services.
    • Say: “I received a message claiming to be from you asking for passport/personal details. Can you confirm whether you contacted me?”
  4. If it claims to be a U.S. embassy/consulate and you’re unsure, use the State Department verification route.
    • Call the Department of State’s Overseas Citizens Services at 888-407-4747 to help verify whether a situation is real or a scam.
  5. If you shared information, contain the damage immediately.
    • If you shared passwords or codes: change passwords (start with your email), enable multi-factor authentication, and sign out of other sessions if available.
    • If you shared bank/card details or paid: contact your bank/card issuer immediately and ask for the fraud department.
    • If you shared identity details (like SSN or a passport scan): use the FTC’s identity theft recovery steps (you may choose to place a fraud alert or credit freeze).
  6. Report it (U.S. reporting routes).
    • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using its official fraud reporting channel.
    • If it’s cyber-enabled fraud (links, online messaging, payment apps, email, etc.), report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
    • If you’re in the U.S. and feel in immediate danger or are being actively threatened, call 911. Otherwise, contact local law enforcement via a non-emergency number.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to prove it’s a scam by “testing” the caller or continuing the conversation.
  • You don’t need to send any documents until you’ve independently confirmed a legitimate request through verified contact details.
  • You don’t need to make big travel decisions right now; first, stop contact, verify, and secure accounts.

Important reassurance

These scams are designed to create panic and urgency so you act before thinking. Hanging up and verifying through a number you look up yourself is a normal, appropriate step with any supposed government or embassy contact.

Scope note

This is first steps only to prevent irreversible mistakes and buy time. If you are overseas and have a real consular issue, the next step is contacting the correct embassy/consulate through verified official contact information.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For urgent safety threats, contact emergency services where you are.

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