Immigrant-targeted scams

fake immigration lawyer scam

Individuals posing as immigration attorneys charge fees for legal services they are not licensed to provide, filing incorrect paperwork that jeopardizes victims' immigration cases.

Verify any immigration attorney's license on your state bar association's website before paying for services.

Immigrants

U.S.

visa lottery scam targeting immigrants

Scammers send emails or create websites claiming victims have won the Diversity Visa Lottery and must pay processing fees, when the real DV Lottery is free and does not notify winners by email.

The official DV Lottery is free to enter and results are only available at dvprogram.state.gov — never pay for lottery processing.

Immigrants

U.S.

ICE impersonator phone call scam

Scammers call immigrants posing as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents, threatening arrest or deportation unless immediate payment is made.

Hang up immediately — ICE never calls to demand payment over the phone and does not accept gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Immigrants

U.S.

fake green card processing service scam

Fraudulent companies promise to expedite green card applications for a fee, submitting incorrect or no paperwork at all while charging thousands of dollars.

File immigration forms directly through uscis.gov or with the help of a licensed immigration attorney verified through your state bar.

Immigrants

U.S.

translation service overcharge scam targeting immigrants

Scammers operating near immigration offices charge immigrants grossly inflated prices for simple document translations, sometimes producing inaccurate or unusable translations.

Get translation quotes from multiple ATA-certified translators before committing — compare prices online.

Immigrants

U.S.

fake USCIS website scam

Scammers create websites that closely mimic the official USCIS site to collect personal information and payment from immigrants who believe they are filing legitimate immigration forms.

Always navigate directly to uscis.gov — the only official USCIS website will have a .gov domain.

Immigrants

U.S.

work permit advance fee scam

Scammers posing as employment agencies or sponsors demand upfront fees from immigrants to secure work permits or employer sponsorship that they cannot deliver.

Legitimate employers pay for sponsorship — you should never have to pay for your own work visa sponsorship.

Immigrants

U.S.

immigration bond scam

Scammers contact families of detained immigrants and demand fraudulent bond payments to secure the detainee's release, impersonating ICE officials or bondsmen.

Contact the detention facility directly or use the ICE detainee locator at locator.ice.gov to verify bond amounts and payment procedures.

Immigrants

U.S.

fake notario immigration scam

Individuals calling themselves notarios offer immigration legal services they are not qualified to provide, exploiting the fact that in many Latin American countries a notario is a licensed legal professional, while in the US a notary public has no such authority.

Only seek immigration legal advice from licensed attorneys verified through your state bar association or DOJ-accredited representatives.

Immigrants

U.S.

deportation threat robocall scam

Automated robocalls in multiple languages threaten immigrants with deportation or arrest warrants and demand immediate payment to resolve fabricated immigration violations.

Hang up on any robocall threatening deportation — the government does not use robocalls to communicate immigration enforcement actions.

Immigrants