Fleeing War and Scams

Newsweek spoke to three Ukrainians who have been targeted by "sponsors" trying to profit from applicants seeking refuge in the U.S. via a humanitarian scheme

-  KATE PLUMMER

UKRAINIANS FLEEING WAR WITH Russia for the United States have come across suspected scammers trying to exploit a government humanitarian support initiative for financial gain, Newsweek can reveal.

Three Ukrainians described the attempts they had seen to use social media to take advantage of Uniting for Ukraine, or U4U-a program President Joe Biden's administration announced in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, whereby displaced people with sponsors can enter the U.S. for two years on a temporary basis.

Our sources say they were asked for payment for sponsorship.

Under the program, sponsors agree to support Ukrainian beneficiaries for the duration of their stay. They are not offered financial support from the government and it is understood that there is a financial obligation for sponsors to support beneficiaries.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts background and security checks on sponsors to determine their financial ability to support their beneficiary and to protect against possible exploitation.

However, prior to finding benefactors, some Ukrainians are being contacted by people seeking thousands of dollars in return for offers of sponsorship.

The Ukrainian citizens Newsweek spoke to did not make payments to those messaging them. However, the sources said they believed they were being scammed. Regardless, soliciting payment from beneficiaries through the initiative is not its purpose, a source familiar with the matter told Newsweek.

A USCIS spokesperson told Newsweek they have told the public to be wary of scams and individuals posing as USCIS officials and said legitimate agency staff will never contact individuals on social media.