Immigration scams can be costly. Not only can victims lose the money they invest in dishonest notarios, but their status may be put in jeopardy by filling out the wrong forms or missing a deadline.
But the effort to combat these scams is a lot of work for staff who already have a full workload.
Know Your Rights
Immigration scams can be devastating to immigrants, who often have limited financial resources. As a result, they can be easy targets for companies and individuals who offer unauthorized immigration services and extort money or personal information from victims. Immigrants may also be reluctant to report these scams because they are afraid that reporting a crime will jeopardize their legal status in the United States. As a result, the number of immigration scam reports is underreported.
A new study from assistant professor of sociology Juan Manuel Pedroza reveals that social context matters in the way people report on immigration scams, with reports being disproportionately more likely to be filed in communities with access to legal and support services for noncitizens. The research, published in the journal Scams and Victimization, examines 1,040 consumer complaints of immigration scams that were submitted to the Federal Trade Commission between 2011 and 2015.
These scams come in many forms, from classic “notario fraud” (where unlicensed professionals take money for filing immigration forms) to fraudulent telemarketing, phishing emails, and fake websites. Government impersonation fraud is a common form of scam, in which individuals posing as officials or law enforcement officers demand personal information or payment of fines and fees from immigrants. They may even call their victims using a spoofing service to make the call appear as though it is from a legitimate government office.
Misinformation fraud is another common scam in which scammers file paperwork with immigration authorities that they know to be incorrect. These papers can then be used by criminals to steal identities or open credit cards in an individual’s name. Finally, immigration affinity fraud occurs when scammers use their shared ethnic, racial, or national origin to gain trust in their victims and convince them to give out their personal information.
To help combat these crimes, it is important for immigrants to understand their rights, especially those related to seeking justice. In particular, they should always seek legal advice from a licensed attorney and only pay for official government documents that can be downloaded for free on the USCIS website. They should never provide any personal or financial information to individuals they do not know, and should only share this information with trusted family members and immigration officials.
Know the Scams
Immigration is a complicated process, and scammers are out to take advantage of those new to the country. Whether they are impersonating government officials, demanding personal information or fees, or requesting payments through gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency, these scams can delay an applicant’s application and cost them money.
Immigrants often encounter these scams via phone, email, websites and local businesses. While the number of reported immigration scams is increasing, it is likely that many cases go unreported. Those who are most vulnerable to scams include refugees, asylum seekers, and people with limited English skills. The best way to protect yourself is to learn the red flags of a scam so that you can spot one before it’s too late.
For instance, it is important to remember that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) never charges for forms that can be downloaded for free from its website. Scammers sometimes create “copycat” websites that mimic official USCIS webpages, leading immigrants to believe they are filing their paperwork with the government when in reality, they are sending their money to the scammer.
Other scams involve impersonating USCIS employees over the telephone. Callers claim to be working on a particular case, pressure the immigrant to act immediately, or threaten deportation if they don’t comply with their requests. In fact, USCIS will not call you to ask for your personal information or money and will never request payment through gift cards or nontraditional methods.
Refugees can be especially susceptible to these scams, as they may have been told that they are eligible for a government grant or reward to help them settle in the United States. Scammers often steal their money by demanding payment through gift cards or alternative methods of currency before releasing the grant funds.
Scammers also target would-be migrants with fake emails and robocalls that impersonate the State Department, claiming that they won the diversity visa lottery and need to send in a fee to process their visa applications. This is a common and devastating tactic used to trick unsuspecting immigrants into revealing sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers or bank accounts. Here is a growing list of fake recruitment agencies in Dubai serves.
Avoid the Scams
Most immigrants seek to migrate to a new country in order to improve their economic situation or to escape persecution and conflict in their home countries. In many cases, these migrants spend a significant amount of money to secure their immigration status. Unfortunately, these people are often vulnerable to scam artists who will use their need for help to take advantage of them.
There are several different types of immigration scams. Some involve impersonators who pose as government representatives, such as USCIS or ICE agents. Other scams involve false websites or fraudulent services. For example, scammers may charge fees for submitting applications that can be filed for free on the official government website. In addition, some scammers have created fake immigration offices and used caller ID spoofing to trick recipients into paying for unnecessary services.
Another common type of scam involves fake grants to refugees. Some scammers have also used a technique called phishing to steal personal information from victims. This information can then be used to commit identity theft and other types of fraud.
While there are legitimate immigration service providers, it is important for potential migrants to research each service provider before using them. It is also a good idea to keep copies of all immigration paperwork and never give away original documents unless they are needed for a specific purpose.
Immigration scams can be very difficult to report. In many cases, individuals who fall victim to these scams can only recover their lost money if they can provide evidence of the scam to an appropriate agency. In the District of Columbia, MIRA advises residents to contact the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking for reporting assistance.
In addition, MIRA urges noncitizens to always be vigilant and to avoid suspicious individuals or websites. It is important to remember that the official government website always ends in.gov and to only use services that are provided by qualified attorneys or government agencies.
Report Scams
Immigration is a long and complicated process that, if not handled correctly, could have devastating consequences for your family. That is why it is so important to stay vigilant and aware of common scams that occur during the immigration process. Whether you are trying to become a US citizen or just renew your Green Card, there are scams out there that are designed to steal your money and your personal information.
Many of these scams involve unreliable immigration services. These unscrupulous services may charge a fee and promise to help you with your application, but they often do not deliver on their promises. They may also file forms that you do not need or apply for benefits that you are not eligible for. These practices, known as the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law, or Notario Fraud, can be devasting and expensive for their victims.
Another type of scam involves the use of spoofing technology to impersonate a government official. This type of fraud is usually carried out by someone using a fake phone number that looks like a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hotline number or a local USCIS office phone number. They will then call you to request personal information or ask for payment. Do not give out any personal information to anyone who calls you over the phone or through email, and always be wary of services that ask for payments via wire transfer or PayPal.
The good news is that there are many legitimate and reputable immigration services available to help you with your case. Make sure to research the different options and look for reviews and testimonials of past clients. If you are unsure about a service, contact the USCIS directly to verify that it is a reputable organization.
It is important to report fraud when it occurs, both in the United States and Canada. The method of reporting will depend on the type of fraud and whether you are in Canada or the United States.
