Lincoln Police Warn of Immigration Phone Scam Targeting Visa Holder

Scammers posed as ICE officials and an attorney to extort personal information and cryptocurrency payments from victim

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:50pm

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The Lincoln Police Department is warning the public about a phone scam targeting a 40-year-old man living in the U.S. on a valid visa. The victim received calls from someone claiming to be an ICE employee and another person posing as an attorney, who threatened the victim with fines, detention, and deportation if he did not provide personal information and make cryptocurrency payments.

Why it matters

This scam highlights the vulnerability of visa holders and immigrants to fraudulent schemes that exploit their immigration status. It also demonstrates how scammers can easily spoof official phone numbers and credentials to appear legitimate, putting unsuspecting victims at risk of financial loss and legal jeopardy.

The details

According to the Lincoln Police Department, the victim received a call from someone claiming to be an ICE employee who said the victim's file was incomplete. The caller threatened the victim with fines, detention, and deportation if he did not comply. The victim then received a call from another person posing as an attorney assigned to assist him, who instructed the victim to provide personal information and purchase gift cards to pay for services.

  • The incident was reported to the Lincoln Police Department on March 11, 2026.

The players

Lincoln Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Lincoln, Nebraska that is warning the public about this scam.

40-year-old visa holder

The victim of the phone scam who was targeted by the fraudsters posing as ICE officials and an attorney.

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What they’re saying

“Government services will never ask for or accept payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards.”

— Lincoln Police Department

What’s next

The Lincoln Police Department is advising the public to be cautious of any unsolicited calls claiming to be from government agencies and to verify the legitimacy of any requests for personal information or payments.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the importance of verifying the identity of callers claiming to be from government agencies and never providing sensitive information or making payments over the phone in response to threats, especially for vulnerable populations like visa holders.