SCAM STOPPER: Attorney General Ellison shares alert on immigration scams

December 23, 2024 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison shared information on how to avoid common immigration-related scams. The warning is part of the Attorney General’s monthly Scam Stopper series, aiming to help protect Minnesota consumers from common scams. 

"One unfortunate thing I’ve learned in fighting scammers is that they often target people in need or in search of assistance," said Attorney General Keith Ellison. "Right now, con artists posing as immigration attorneys are lying to, cheating, and stealing money from people who came to Minnesota to build a better life for themselves and contribute to our state. Please be on the lookout for these scams, spread the word about them, and if you uncover one, report it to the authorities.” 

How the Scams Work 

Scammers pretending to be immigration attorneys are lying to and stealing from immigrant communities in Minnesota. Scammers frequently reach out directly to folks they target to offer immigration-related legal services. They often make big promises, ask for large upfront payments, and then take the money they receive and disappear. 

These scammers not only run away with someone’s money, but the scammer can also harm their chances of immigrating by not filling out the right forms, failing to tell them about court dates, making them miss important deadlines, or giving them the wrong legal advice. 

Quick Tips to Guard Against Immigration Scams 

Never:

• Pay for immigration forms. You can get forms free at uscis.gov/forms, by calling 1-800-870-3676, or at your local USCIS office.  
• Sign a blank form. Make sure all forms are complete before you sign them.  
• Sign any forms that have false information.  
• Send original documents as evidence to support your application unless USCIS asks for the original. 

Always: 

• Get immigration information from the U.S. government, starting with uscis.gov or state.gov.  
• Check that the person who helps you is an attorney or accredited representative.  
• Get a receipt if you pay someone to help you.  
• Get copies of forms prepared for you.  
• Keep all letters and notices from USCIS in a safe place.  
• Manage your case with self-help tools at uscis.gov/tools. 

How to Spot a Scam 

In the U.S., if someone reaches out to you from a TikTok account, or through other platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, claiming to be an immigration lawyer, the account is most likely a fraudulent or scam account. It is against Minnesota law for a lawyer to contact you directly to offer legal services, unless the services they are offering are free.  

Another warning that someone is lying to you is if they advertise a price for immigration services that is much lower than most immigration lawyers—if it is too good to be true, it is probably a scam. Other signs that someone is not a lawyer and is lying to steal your money include: threatening you with deportation if you do not pay them, rushing you to make a payment, or requiring that you make a payment with a gift card.  

If someone says they are a lawyer, ask which state they have a law license in. Then, contact the state bar association to make sure they are allowed to work in that state. If someone claims to be an “accredited representative,” call EOIR at (703) 305-0470 to see if they are allowed to provide immigration paperwork assistance. 

Attorneys and accredited representatives must explain the law and your options, so that you can make important decisions about your case, sign all the papers they prepare, have in writing their services and what you are paying for, keep your information confidential, and update you on important dates. Attorneys should also update you on the progress of your case, give you copies of everything, even if you owe them money, and return your phone calls or emails. 

Be Wary of “Notarios” 

If you or someone you know needs help with immigration paperwork, go straight to a licensed immigration lawyer and skip the notarios. They are not lawyers and cannot help with immigration. In the U.S., “notaries” are not lawyers and cannot do what a “notario” can do in other countries. They cannot give any type of legal advice or file any immigration papers.  

Government Forms Are Free 

You should never pay for government immigration forms from the U.S. government. Government forms are free and can be found by visiting www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms. Some scammers have websites that look like they are official government sites. Make sure the website address has “.gov” to be sure it is a real government website. Fake government websites are used to steal money and your private information, so be on the lookout. 

Finding an Immigration Attorney  

Make sure that anyone who helps you with your immigration case is authorized to help. If you want to find a free, or low-cost immigration attorney, check out justice.gov. Use quotation marks and search for “list pro bono service providers.” You can also look for free or low-cost legal services and authorized immigration service providers at uscis.gov/avoid-scams/find-legal-services.  

You can also view a list of immigration attorneys at the American Immigration Lawyers Association by visiting www.ailalawyer.com. To make sure an individual is a licensed attorney, in the state of Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Judicial Branch at https://mars.courts.state. mn.us. At the end of this flyer is a list of other resources. 

Reporting an Immigration Scam 

If you know the scammer lives in Minnesota, you can report the scam to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office using this online form. You can also contact the Attorney General’s Office by calling (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787. If you do not know where the scammer lives you can file a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. 

If you believe you have been contacted by a fraudulent TikTok account, you can report the account to TikTok online at support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/report-a-problem/report-an-impersonation-account. You can learn more about protecting yourself from criminals online at uscis.gov/avoid-scams. 

Many people feel embarrassed when a scam happens to them, but the truth is that con artists and scammers are often professionals with years of experience. They are good at what they do, and they count on people feeling too embarrassed to speak out. This allows scammers to continue to operate and continue to cheat people. If a scam happens to you, please report it right away. Doing so could help protect others from scams in the future. 

For more information, see these resources from Attorney General Ellison on immigration scams.