Beware of Immigration Scams: FTC Warns of Fraudulent Attorneys and Law Firms on Social Media

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an alert to warn immigrants and their families of an increase in immigration scams. According to the consumer agency, scammers are impersonating attorneys and law firms on social media platforms like Facebook, promising immigration services such as work permits, green cards, or even citizenship.

“If you press like or leave a comment, they’ll contact you and guarantee you’ll get a work permit, green card, or citizenship — but it’s a scam,” the FTC warned.

How the Scam Works

The scams often begin with a social media post in English or your preferred language offering help with immigration paperwork. If you engage with the post by liking it or leaving a comment, the scammers will contact you directly. They guarantee success in obtaining immigration benefits but require upfront payments through services like Western Union or Zelle.

Victims say they were scheduled for fake virtual appointments with a “USCIS officer” via Zoom or WhatsApp. To make the scam seem legitimate, the scammers may wear uniforms.

The FTC noted that while many legitimate US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are now virtual, appointments are never arranged through messenger apps, but scheduled via official mail or through a secure MyUSCIS account.

How to Spot and Avoid Immigration Scams

Protect yourself and others with these tips:

1. Use Official Sources. Always go to USCIS.gov for up-to-date immigration information. If you have a pending application or petition, you can check your case status online directly through the official platform.
2. Recognize Fake Government Websites. Scammers often create fake websites that mimic official government pages. Always check the web address: if it doesn’t end in .gov, it’s not legitimate.
3. Verify Payment Methods
   USCIS only accepts certain forms of payment for filing fees. Anyone asking for payment through Western Union, Zelle, or other non-standard methods is a scammer.
4. Use Scam Detection Tools. Tools like Bitdefender Scamio can help you identify fake websites and suspicious links in real time. Scamio provides alerts when you encounter potentially malicious URLs or fraudulent pages, helping you stay safe while browsing online or engaging on social media.

For quick and on-the-go scam check for websites you can also use Bitdefender Link Checker: A free tool that verifies URLs to help you avoid malware, phishing attempts, and counterfeit websites.

5. Share the Alert. Inform your community about these scams. The FTC provides resources to help immigrants identify and avoid fraud at ftc.gov/immigration.

We’ve previously touched on the subject and you can read more in this dedicated article: Immigration Scams: How They Work and Safety Tips

If you believe you’ve encountered an immigration scam or have already fallen victim to one:

• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or in Spanish at ReporteFraude.ftc.gov.
• For assistance in other languages, call (877) 382-4357 and press 3 to speak to an interpreter in your preferred language.