Immigration Scams: How They Work and Safety Tips

Immigrating to a new country can be filled with bureaucratic hurdles. Scammers are keenly aware of this so they plan highly profitable swindles against those seeking to navigate the complex immigration process.

Immigration scams can have serious consequences for victims, who, on top of indisputable financial losses, can also be impacted by the ramifications of identity theft crimes.

Did you know?

• More immigrants live in the US than in any other country. According to research by the Pew Research Center in 2020, the United States had over 40 million immigrants living within its borders.
• Immigration scams often go unreported. A 2022 US study on scams targeting immigrants showed that, from 2011 to 2014, only 400 to 700 immigration scams were reported annually. These crimes are mainly omitted from reports out of fear and confusion of noncitizens.
• Reported financial losses to immigration scams range from $500 to $10,000 in 2023

7 Types of Immigration Scams

Understanding the various types of immigration scams and how they work has become a necessity for immigrants to protect their money and identity. Here are seven immigration scams to be aware of:

1. Fake Immigration Lawyers and Consultants

Scammers posing as immigration lawyers or consultants contact individuals or set up fake websites promising expedited services and guaranteed visas. These so-called immigration experts often charge exorbitant fees for their services and then disappear, leaving unsuspecting victims without legal representation. Victims not only lose money, but also put themselves at risk of identity theft, since fraudsters also ask for sensitive information during their ”consultations” with customers.

Notario Fraud fits into this category. In this type of scam, fraudsters exploit the confusion between the term “notario” (which in Spanish-speaking countries means a legal professional with comprehensive legal credentials) with “public notary”  (government-entrusted official that is authorized to witness the signing of important documents). The scammers claim they are powerful attorneys offering legal services related to immigration processes, but in reality, these individuals are unlicensed and uncredited representatives that cannot give legitimate legal advice.

2.   Government Impostors

Individuals posing as representatives of US Citizenship and Immigration Services or another government agency contact recipients via phone, email, or text. They tell recipients that they will be arrested, lose visa status, or threaten them with deportation unless they pay money (via PayPal, Venmo, gift card or even crypto) or hand over personal information.

3.    Phishing Scams

Scammers send emails, text messages, or make phone calls pretending to be from the Department of Homeland Security or the Immigration Office to coerce victims into handing over sensitive information and money. The messages may contain fake warrants and fake links where the recipients are required to file immigration paperwork or pay processing fees. Other variants include malicious attachments that, once accessed, deploy malware onto the recipients’ device.

4. Job Offer Scams

Fraudsters offer job opportunities for applicants in foreign countries. These fraudulent job offers can target potential victims via email or can be found on online job platforms or social media. The scammers usually require upfront payment for employment-related visas or travel expenses. Once the victim pays, the recruiter and the job offer are no longer to be found.

5.  Visa Lottery Scams

Scammers take advantage of multiple visa programs to defraud unsuspecting applicants and immigrants. For example, fraudsters impersonating the US government can send fake emails that claim recipients can increase their chances of winning the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program (which is free to enter) for a fee.

6.  Scams Targeting Students

International students who want to apply for foreign colleges and universities often need a student visa for their education. In this type of scam, students may receive phone calls from “embassy officials” claiming that their student visa is about to expire or that they are missing documents and need to make payments to fix the issue. The scam may also involve scammers posing as immigration authorities or an education agency to ask recipients to pay fines via money transfer services such as Moneygram and Western Union.

7.  Refugee Scams

Fraudsters create fake listings and social media webpages promising resettlement in the US, Canada or other countries alongside humanitarian visas for refugees. Unsuspecting victims are promised resettlement and access to bogus employment programs while being encouraged to apply for fake visa programs for a fee.

Best Practices and Safety Tips to Avoid Immigration Scams

1. Verify credentials. Always check the credentials of individuals and businesses offering immigration services.
2. Know the red flags. Any unsolicited offer or listing that sounds too good to be true and promises guaranteed results for a fee and personal information is a scam.  Legitimate government officials never contact individuals out of the blue, via text, email or phone to threaten and extort money. Anything that fits this scenario is a scam. Unsolicited attachment should be handled with care and never opened unless you can verify the legitimacy of the sender.
3. Be wary of requests for personal info. Never provide sensitive information to individuals or via unsolicited webforms. This includes copies of your ID, passport, credit card info and any other type of personally identifiable information.
4. Research immigration processes and laws. Familiarize yourself with the immigration process in the country you want to apply to and the official channels through which services are provided. Government-listed immigration forms for the US are free and available to download from the official USCIS websites – be wary of individuals who charge for these forms.
5. Use official websites. Ensure you’re using official government websites to get familiar with the necessary requirements, forms and required personal information. For any advise and support, always seek trusted community organizations.
6. Report any suspicious activity. If you suspect you have encountered a scam or have been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your local police.

7.  Use a security solution with anti-phishing and anti-fraud filtering systems to sniff out and block phishing and fraudulent websites offering immigration services.

8. Use Bitdefender Scamio, our free scam detector and prevention service for anyone with a Bitdefender account.

If you’re suspicious about a certain phone call, email, SMS or post, simply describe the situation to our AI-powered chatbot and let it guide you to safety. Scamio is available on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or a web browser for free! For localized versions, check Scamio in  France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia and the UK.

FAQs About Immigration Scams

How to avoid immigration scams?

Use accredited organizations and professionals to assist you in the immigration process. Closely examine the official website and email address, and beware of unrealistic promises. Never sign blank immigration forms, keep your original documents in a safe place and always ask for a receipt.

How to check if an immigration service is legitimate?

During the immigration process, finding the right consultant is very important. Verify the credentials of the individual, examine their email address and payment process, and check the website/platform for detailed information about their services, process, fees, and testimonials.

Where do I report immigration scams?

If you suspect immigration fraud, abuse or any authorized immigration practices for the US, use the official USCIS website.

For the UK, you can contact Action Fraud via this link.

In Europe, you can report fraud using the information from the European Anti-Fraud Office.