Last November, amid a federal immigration enforcement operation in North Carolina, the State Attorney General's Office He warned the community about potential immigration-related scams..
The alert indicated that scammers promote their services on social media, forge documents, and They use artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate real lawyers and simulate video calls that resemble court hearings or immigration interviews.
These cases highlight how immigration scams have evolved and are using increasingly sophisticated technologies to deceive people.
Mary Armistead, director of the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project from the NC Justice Center, he said Enlace Latino NC that these types of scams that use technology and AI have increased.
“That was precisely one of the reasons why we wanted to develop a more comprehensive resource, in order to help people understand what these scams are all about,” Armistead said.
The resource, an eight-page guide, was published on October 14, in English and Spanish.
How technology has transformed immigration scams
According to Armistead, the use of AI has allowed scammers to create fake websites and impersonate legal professionals more quickly and on a larger scale.
“We have observed that there are people who create fake websites to impersonate immigration lawyers; to do this, they simply resort to artificial intelligence, which generates these sites with a speed and on a scale that we have never seen before,” Armistead said.
With these tools, scammers can impersonate legitimate immigration lawyers and post ads with AI-manipulated videos, known as deepfakes. In these ads, they promise to guarantee citizenship, obtain work permits, or speed up visa processing, when in reality they are not carrying out any procedure.
Differences between traditional scams and technological scams
This modality differs from the fraud schemes traditionally associated with so-called “notaries”, who offer immigration services without necessarily having the legal training required to practice law in the country.
“In the past, 'notaries' actually provided services, even though they lacked the necessary legal knowledge. This undoubtedly constituted the illegal practice of law. […] Today, however, this rarely happens. While cases of illegal practice of law still occur, it is more common for fraudsters to simply claim to be handling necessary paperwork, such as completing forms, when in reality they are collecting fees without doing absolutely anything,” Armistead said.
Another difference is that now scammers invent immigration fees and claim that victims must pay certain amounts to the federal government.
Taking advantage of the confusion generated by constant regulatory changes, the expert commented that scammers tell victims they must pay thousands of dollars to the federal government to avoid penalties or expedite their cases.
What are the red flags that can help identify a scam?
To that end, the guide offers very specific advice on what to look out for. Among the main warning signs, or red flags, highlighted by the lawyer and the NC Justice Center resource are:
- Informal or suspicious payment methods: A lawyer or legitimate legal representative will not solicit transfers through personal use applications such as Venmo or Cash App.
- Promises and guarantees of success: In the U.S. immigration system, there are no zero risks or 100% guaranteed results. If someone promises with absolute certainty that they will obtain legal status or assures exact timeframes (for example, claiming that the process will be completed in five months), it is a clear indication of fraud.
- Lack of representation agreement (retainer): An ethical legal provider, especially one that charges fees, will always have you sign a written agreement or contract for their services. If they ask for money without a contract, that's a red flag.
- Official logos altered: Scammers often slightly alter institutional logos in fake notifications to simulate their authenticity. The guide includes images of the genuine official logos so people can compare them.
The expert warned that victims rarely discover the deception at the time, but months or years later, when they receive serious legal notifications.
“People don’t realize it’s a scam until something bad happens to their immigration case. They legitimately think they’re living in the country with permanent residency or that their case is closed, and then suddenly they receive a document in the mail saying they have a deportation order in absentia,” Armistead explained.
How to report fraud safely
The guide indicates that it is safe to report these crimes to the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) or the NC State Bar, if the scam involves a licensed attorney.
“We are very confident that there will be no negative immigration consequences for reporting to those particular entities,” Armistead said.
On the contrary, the specialist recommended caution before going to local police authorities due to the presence of 287(g) agreements in the state.
“Unfortunately, there are risks for immigrants when reporting any crime. In North Carolina, we have 287(g) agreements between local police and ICE to help identify undocumented individuals. Therefore, the resources listed in our documentation are the safest places to report; I also advise speaking with an immigration attorney,” he added.
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An unfair but necessary burden
Finally, Armistead expressed his frustration that the responsibility for staying vigilant falls directly on the immigrant community, which already faces a constant climate of fear and hostile rhetoric.
“It is very frustrating that immigrants themselves have to be so on guard and so alert to these scams when they already live in an environment of continuous fear and trauma,” she said.
“We don’t want them to think that at the NC Justice Center we’re okay with this burden falling on their shoulders; unfortunately, it’s the reality we live in and people need to be vigilant to avoid being victimized,” the expert added.
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