SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S JUNE 2024 FRAUD ALERT: AVOIDING IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE SCAMS

Many of those immigrating to the United States are unfamiliar with official titles, government websites and procedures as well as immigration law.

As a result, criminals prey upon these individuals in an effort to steal and defraud.

These practices are disheartening and disgraceful and they make an already difficult procedure even more tedious.

Often referring to themselves as “Notarios” or “Notarios Públicos,” among other official-sounding titles, immigrants are charged fees for legal assistance that these scammers are not authorized to give, for forms that can be obtained for free and for promises that they are unable to keep.

In fact, there have been many occasions where the “assistance” that these scammers have offered has actually hampered their victims’ ability to immigrate legally.

The United States government designates specific individuals as “Accredited Representatives.” Some of these individuals are attorneys; some are not. All of these “Accredited Representatives” are authorized to provide immigration advice.

Those seeking immigration information should only interact with U.S. Government entities and websites.

Individuals seeking immigration assistance must never pay for immigration forms. All required forms are provided for free from the United States Government.

Seek advice from community members and neighbors who have completed the process.

As mentioned, never pay “Notarios” for legal assistance…never!

If you have paid for immigration assistance and did not receive it, please call the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC) at 1-877-382-4357 or file a complaint online at ftc.gov/complaint.