The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an investigation into organized networks targeting individuals in immigration proceedings. According to federal sources and a DHS statement, the agency is seeking to identify and prosecute scammers who pose as attorneys and federal agents to solicit payments from immigrants. The agency stated it is prioritizing the tracking of URLs, WhatsApp numbers, and Zelle payment records to locate the perpetrators.
The investigation follows a ProPublica report indicating that fraud complaints related to immigration have doubled during the current administration. Data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that victims reported more than $94.4 million in losses over the past five years across 6,200 complaints. These schemes often involve fraudulent advertisements on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok that lead to requests for money in exchange for falsified legal documents.
Professional organizations and state agencies have recently issued public warnings regarding the surge in impersonation. The American Bar Association, the Florida Bar, and the New York Department of State reported instances of "notario fraud" and the use of AI-generated videos to impersonate legitimate immigration attorneys. Federal investigators are now coordinating with these groups to gather evidence on specific cases where victims faced deportation after being defrauded.