Fraud alert on immigration

With the more vigorous stance by the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, there have been reports that fraudsters have been posing as ICE agents demanding money to prevent deportation. Specifically, the New York Attorney General's Office issued an urgent fraud alert warning immigrant communities to be vigilant of potential scams preying on immigrant communities. Scams such as these only increased the fears of the undocumented who have already been living under more anxious circumstances brought about by recent executive orders on immigration. The New York State Attorney General's Office has opened up Immigration Services Fraud Unit Hotline (866-390-2992) or email to civil.rights@ag,ny.gov where people can report fraud and other issues.

The modus operandi of these fraudulent schemes include the following:

1. Unsolicited calls from fake officials - When you receive a call or a text from unknown individuals claiming to be officials from the US Immigration and Citizenship Services or from the US Department of Homeland Security making threats of deportation unless you pay them over the phone, you should know that this is a scam. The US  government does not request personal information or demand payment over the phone so make sure that whenever you receive calls such as these even though the number looks legitimate, take down the number, date and time when you received these calls and report it to the fraud hotline.

2. Being approached in person by fake immigration officials - ICE agents cannot enter your house without a warrant signed by an immigration judge. Again, they also do not demand payment from you to avoid deportation. When approached by self-described ICE agents, make sure you get their names and personal descriptions and ask for any official copy of your "Notice to Appear" signed by an immigration judge.

3. Notario fraud - Notarios are not immigration lawyers and therefore are not authorized to file immigration forms on your behalf. Be wary of notarios asking payment for immigration-related work which you are not even eligible for.

4. Misrepresenting legal credentials - Some people claim that they are lawyers when in fact they are not.

5. Immigration affinity fraud - This is a type of fraud where individuals make you feel they are the same nationality, race, culture, or ethnic group as you. So some individuals may pose as Filipinos with the hope that as an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines, you could easily trust them to help you with your immigration problem.

6. Misinformation fraud - The fraudster knows that the undocumented is not eligible for any relief or benefit yet still assures him that he could do something for him.

7. Fraudulent promises to expedite process - These individuals make false claims that they know somebody inside USCIS who can help the undocumented make applications and petitions to be decided the soonest time available.

8. Unauthorized practice of law - These scammers claim to be lawyers or experts in practicing immigration law when in fact they are not, or they just run travel agencies but provide advice and opinion on matters of immigration law.

All these scams have one goal in mind: To demand exorbitant fees from unsuspecting and helpless undocumented immigrants. So DO NOT PAY either in person or by phone. US IMMIGRATION NOTES by Atty. Marco Tomakin