Scams in Somalia pale in comparison to the intricate fraud networks in India that affect the U.S. economy. These scams are undermining American jobs, especially in tech, through mechanisms like H-1B visas, purchased degrees, and counterfeit credentials.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overwhelming majority—90%—of job growth in the U.S. since the pandemic began has benefited foreign workers. This is pretty striking when you think about it. I mean, what does that say about the job market? In a study from 2022, it was noted that while 60% of American graduates in computer science found employment quickly, a whopping 86% of foreign graduates from Amherst College did the same.
In a particular instance, the University of Pittsburgh looked to fill a tech role, but the position was restricted to H-1B visa holders. Another similar scenario occurred at a university supported by Indiana taxpayers and, well, even at Stanford.
This trend of favoring H-1B workers in STEM areas has contributed to a deluge of counterfeit foreign degrees. As a result, American science and engineering graduates are facing devaluation of their credentials, making them more susceptible to job loss and wrongful termination.
South China Morning Post reported on Manav Bharti University (MBU) in India, which allegedly sold around 36,000 fake degrees for less than $5,000 each, accepted by U.S. employers during that stretch of time.
In short, workers with fraudulent degrees can’t truly compare to their American counterparts. This discrepancy leads to various issues within the U.S. tech sector, such as software bugs and cybersecurity concerns. Remember Cyber Monday in December 2025? Shopify, which relies on H-1B labor, faced a significant failure that not only caused a 6% drop in stock but also hindered thousands of small businesses from processing orders on a peak sales day.
H-1B visas might boost short-term profits for top U.S. companies, but the broader implications of this fraud are seriously concerning for both the economy and national security.
Some conservatives are ramping up their opposition to outsourcing jobs to India, claiming to, well, “Make call centers great again.” They’ve voiced dissatisfaction with offshore customer service. Senator Gallego from Arizona introduced the Keeping Call Centers in America Act of 2025, meant to prevent companies that outsource call centers from receiving federal support.
In September 2025, activist Charlie Kirk voiced his frustrations, stating, “America doesn’t need more visas for Indians. Perhaps language aside, there’s been a noticeable impact on American workers.”
The Trump administration initiated a crackdown on H-1B visas, but this didn’t apply to those already in the country. Many of these visa holders may have fabricated their qualifications to secure U.S. tech positions, granting them access to sensitive data of millions. How can we ensure that this information won’t end up in the hands of Indian scammers?
In February, a year-long FBI investigation revealed that over 650 victims lost around $48 million to three Indian call centers, where scammers impersonated tech support and even law enforcement.
According to surveys, a significant percentage of Americans—31%—receive at least one scam call daily, with 73% experiencing some form of online fraud. This could be a significant issue during the approaching election campaign.
It appears that a culture of fraud has enabled India’s extensive scheme, leveraging U.S. data to exploit vulnerable citizens daily. The American public has sadly become desensitized to these Indian scams, almost accepting them as a new reality in our tech-driven age.
The fraud case in Minnesota specifically highlighted exploitation through government subsidies. However, India’s fraud market goes further, taking advantage of the system and pushing out Americans with legitimate qualifications, stealing opportunities from them.
The ongoing narrative of “America First” suggests that perhaps India should tackle its own crime issues first. It might be worth considering a two-part strategy: enforcing accountability for fraud in India while also bringing about legal reforms.
With midterms approaching, a crackdown on fraud coming from India may emerge as a pivotal foreign policy issue for Republicans. It’s interesting to see how these discussions evolve.
