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July 6th, 2007

"Surge in Scams Robbing Innocent Immigrants"

Thousands of immigrants in the United States are being defrauded by unscrupulous con artists, fraudsters operating from travel agencies, notaries, and individuals claiming to be immigration attorneys, with a surge of such scams reported since the recent talk in Congress of immigration reform.

"We'll Get You a Reserved Space"

Jose Perez, head of the Bureau of Consumer Fraud and Protection for the New York Attorney General’s office, reports that a common scam these days is "People…saying, 'Sign up now under President Bush’s new immigration law. Reserve your space.' " The state's immigration hotline saw a 28% increase in complaints from April to May 2007, as con men drain unknowing immigrants of thousands of dollars — often life savings — with promises to help them get a green card or become citizens.

Cash Only

Con artists typically accept payment only in cash, usually in advance of any "services" rendered. They play on the naiveté of victims, and often threaten victims that they'll be reported to the Immigration Services if they demand their money back or make any trouble.

Threats of Being Reported

For the victims of immigration fraud, a fate even worse than losing thousands of dollars is the possibility of having one's chances of gaining legal residency damaged by the fraud, or being deported, or having a family member deported. Such scenarios are not uncommon, and when a fraud victim realizes that he or she has been conned, getting a trustworthy and competent immigration attorney is the only option for fixing the damage.

Sometimes by a Countryman

In a notorious New York case, convicted scammer Larry Valorozo stole at least $70,000 from immigrants from his native country, the Philippines, before he was caught. He had been pretending to be an attorney, with fake business cards, law degree, and membership in various legal associations. He played on the trust of people who thought that since was a Filipino, he was doing his best for them.

Warning Signs of an Immigration Scam

The typical warning signs of immigration con men (and women) are:

• They tell a potential client that they can get him or her a special deal.
• They advertise that they are attorneys; check their status with the state bar.
• They refuse to give a client a contract in writing, or an itemized bill of their service.
• They refuse to return original documents or copies of forms they submit to the government.
• They threaten to report a client to immigration authorities, for any reason.

(Source: New York Daily News online)

Have you been the victim of an immigration scam or any type of consumer fraud? Find a reputable and trustworthy immigration or consumer law attorney here.