As immigration in the U.S. continues to rise, immigrants face a unique set of challenges in protecting themselves from legal, social, financial, and personal exploitation. In particular, immigrants are particularly vulnerable to scams that target their cultural, language, or immigration status. Because of this, it is important for immigrants to be aware of the most common scams and how to protect themselves. One of the most common scams targeting immigrants is fraudsters posing as lawyers or immigration officials. Fraudsters may advertise their services as a “consultant” or an “expert” and offer to help immigrants with their visa, work, or residence application. They may also ask for sensitive personal information to facilitate their service, such as copies of documents, bank accounts, or Social Security numbers. They may even charge immigrants hefty processing fees and then disappear.
This type of scam can have serious legal ramifications, so it is important for immigrants to verify the credentials and legitimacy of an immigration service provider before entrusting them with any important documents. Another scam is the overcharging of fees. Many immigration services providers often charge extraordinarily high amounts for services like green card applications, visa rejections, or money transfers. It is important for immigrants to be aware of these fees and to research or consult with trusted experts to ensure they are only paying an acceptable fee. Immigrants should also be wary of marriage scams, which often claim that they can help immigrants get married and gain access to residence or citizenship. There have been cases where immigrants have been tricked into a fake marriage arrangement in order to remain in the U.S. or gain access to better healthcare or residency benefits. Finally, immigrants should be aware of scams related to their homeland, such as fraudsters who claim to be able to transfer money from their homeland to their current country of residence.