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CNET
29-07-2025
- CNET
Scammers Are Using Fake Lawyers and Court Dates to Steal Immigrants' Money. Here's What to Look Out For
Scammers are pretending to be immigrants' friend or worst nightmare to con them out of their money. SengFor some immigrants looking for a better life in the US, the American dream has been something out of a nightmare lately. The Trump administration is determined to deport undocumented people, whether they have a criminal record or not, with the administration suggesting that they will try to deport 1 million immigrants a year. Understandably, you may be unnerved right now, even if you're an immigrant in the country legally. Scammers know that. In fact, they're counting on it -- and have concocted cons designed to take advantage of immigrants' anxiety and desperation to remain in the country. "The scam landscape is getting nastier and more specific by the week," said Shane Lucado, an attorney and founder of a website that helps people find lawyers. "The worst abuse I see today involves immigrants, from new arrivals, language learners or first-timers dealing with U.S. systems." What immigration scams are popular right now Many scammers are ditching the strategy of posing as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Lucado said. These scams still exist, but criminals will now also pretend to lend you a helping hand with your case. "Now they act like they are on your side," he said. "They say they work with USCIS (US Citizen and Immigration Services). They spoof agency phone numbers. They use exact government letterhead. And then they say your paperwork has a mistake." There is really no shortage of immigration scams that have been reported across the country. Spoiler alert: They all ask you to pay up, or else. Common immigration scams can include: Fake government officials claiming to be a part of ICE have contacted immigrants in California and told them that they are at risk of being deported but can avoid it if they pay a fine. Undocumented immigrants in Colorado have been approached on social media and WhatsApp by "immigration agents." They set up a staged Zoom appointment with USCIS agents offering asylum if victims make a wire transfer using Zelle or Western Union. In New York City, an asylum seeker was advised by a fake attorney to stay away from his in-person court hearing (the argument being that he might be deported) and instead attend an online hearing. The man paid his fake attorney money in installments, shelling out close to $5,000 before learning he was being scammed. Meanwhile, he missed his real court hearing and was ordered to be deported. A visa-related scam that has been making the rounds nationwide is Middle Eastern students lawfully living in the US being targeted by scammers. They try to convince the victims that there's something wrong with their paperwork, and they could be sent home unless they pay up. How to avoid immigration scams Swindlers are craftier than ever at devising scams. Luckily, there are some red flags you can look for. Too good to be true deals If you've been stressing over your legal status for some time, and suddenly, out of nowhere, you're working with a company that makes it sound like all of your troubles are going to soon vanish, you should be skeptical, according to Marina Shepelsky, a New York City-based attorney who specializes in immigration, visas, divorce and family law. Listen closely for the phrase, "expedited processes." This should set off alarm bells in your head. Similarly, anyone who identifies themselves as a consultant, notary or solo paralegal is probably up to no good. You've been approached over the phone, email or social media It's not that you couldn't be working with a reputable person on the phone or through email. In many situations, you could. But it matters whether you initiated the conversation or if the so-called immigration expert or lawyer came to you. "USCIS or ICE will not give you a warning call," Shepelsky said. "They will send you a letter and just show up at your door, speaking from our experience." Stay far away from "phishing, where someone will text or email asking for personal information or payment under the disguise of an official communication," she added. You feel pressure to make a payment This is a classic red flag. But it's a tactic that works well for scammers since many undocumented immigrants already feel pressured to act in the current political climate. Oftentimes, scammers know a lot of your personal information, sometimes even your case number. "So when they speak with authority, your brain skips logic and goes into fix-it mode. This is emotional hijacking," Lulado said. "They target those between processes, which are people applying for asylum, waiting on work permits or stuck in visa renewal loops." The payment method requested is odd Scammers don't like paper trails that might lead back to them, so they tend to use payment methods that make it hard for law enforcement to find them later. No matter how pressured you feel, refrain from paying anyone with gift cards or payment apps like Zelle. No reputable government or legal official is going to ask you to make a payment in this way. And if someone is threatening to deport you, they won't ask for money at all. You'll just be detained. Research the attorney you hire Immigrants navigating the judicial system should always work with a credentialed and licensed immigration lawyer. Shepelsky says that most states have a searchable online directory of licensed attorneys, as well as barred ones. The Department of Justice also has an online list of immigration attorneys who have been disbarred. They could still be scammers even if they're not on the list, but it's another way to check a lawyer's credentials. Always search a lawyer's first and last name in the directory of the state they practice law in. You could also try the American Bar Association, which will link you to a directory of lawyers that are licensed in your state. What to do If you fall for an immigration scam In the aftermath of falling for any scam, you may feel too embarrassed to call attention to yourself and avoid doing anything. But don't do nothing. "If someone becomes a victim after paying $800 for a fake visa, they should gather all receipts, screenshots and conversations," Lucado said. "Send everything to the [state] attorney general's office and the state bar. That filing usually triggers an inquiry within 30 days." If that unnerves you given the current political climate, or you feel you need more help, Lucado says that there are free and low-cost legal clinics that may be able to assist you. Additionally, you can report the immigration scam to your state's consumer protection office, according to USCIS. Reporting scams will not affect your application. Some states also allow anonymous complaints. You may not get your money back, but by fighting back, you make it harder for scammers to trick their next victim.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are Pandemic-Era Shopping Shortages Returning? 3 Reasons To Stock Up Now (And 3 Not To)
As tariffs impact global trade routes, some consumers worry that store shelves could soon resemble the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic — bare and unpredictable, and possibly hard on the budget. Learn More: Find Out: Earlier this year, a growing number of U.S. consumers said they were stockpiling goods in anticipation of rising prices. 'I'm buying double of whatever — beans, canned goods, flour, you name it,' Thomas Jennings, a shopper in New Jersey, told a Reuters reporter as he prepared for potential price hikes and shortages. While prices have dominated recent headlines, delays in shipping and customs backlogs are quietly creating stock shortages in key sectors. And, although President Donald Trump's tariffs were recently declared unlawful by the Court of International Trade, they were quickly temporarily reinstated. The Trump administration is also pushing back in an attempt to implement the tariffs, leaving their fate unknown for now. Are pandemic-era shopping shortages returning? Here are three reasons to stock up now and three reasons not to. If the tariffs do stick around, here are the reasons you might want to start stocking up. Read Next: Shane Lucado, founder and CEO of InPerSuit Inc., a legal technology company, said consumers should watch for signals in logistics contracts and freight indexes. 'When companies start renegotiating delivery terms mid-year, something big is shifting,' Lucado said. 'Freight delays plus tariff spikes mean manufacturers hedge risk by cutting supply. That ripples into job cuts, stock adjustments and vendor shakeups.' Josh Fischer, vice president of product strategy at Cin7, an inventory management platform, said Chinese imports will be hit the hardest. 'This is going to impact several specific industries, such as electronics, apparel, footwear, auto parts, toys, and sporting goods,' Fischer said. 'The good news is that these aren't the types of products consumers are buying every day. But this will impact seasonal spikes in purchases.' Baby furniture and European goods are current examples of accessible but vulnerable inventory. 'Purchasing baby furniture is the smartest move right now,' said Johanna Bialkin, CEO of Aldea Home & Baby. 'Gliders, cribs and dressers, especially from Europe, are still in stock and still at a good value right now. We are expecting the tariffs in the EU to drive up demand and pricing.' Panic won't do you any favors, so make sure you consider the reasons not to stock up before you hit the store. Acting out of urgency rather than need may leave consumers with items that don't suit their lifestyle or, worse, that they can't return. 'Sometimes people make decisions they regret, like buying a full-size stroller when you actually realize you want something lightweight,' Bialkin said. 'We love the process of education and will continue to leverage our 20 years of expertise to help our consumers buy when it is the right moment.' Unlike the pandemic, when supply disruptions unfolded gradually and predictably, today's potential trade-related shortages are harder to anticipate. Factors such as small business closures, volatile pricing and inconsistent trade policies make inventory gaps unpredictable and category-specific. Stockpiling everything 'just in case' could strain household budgets and storage space with little payoff. 'We saw a 44.8% spike in apparel sales during the week of March 31,' said Raj De Datta, CEO and founder of Bloomreach, an AI-driven personalization platform. 'That's consumers trying to get ahead of price hikes due to China-focused tariffs.' De Datta added, 'When tariffs hit basics, like a $100 shoe line suddenly costing $300, some retailers may pause entire product lines.' In times of uncertainty, it's natural to consider stocking up on essentials. However, financial experts caution against excessive spending that could jeopardize personal finances and encourage the use of credit cards for everyday purchases. 'Make sure you know where every dollar is going right now, because it's more important than ever to do so,' Thomas Nitzsche, a financial educator at the nonprofit Money Management International (MMI), told NBC10 Boston. He explained, 'When you see $10 for a dozen eggs, it is really a wake-up call. If it is something you know you'll need, you want to buy now, feel free. But just use caution, because if you finance it, you really got to do the long-term math on that to see, is this really going to make sense? Am I going to end up paying more in interest than I would have saved if I just waited?' Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance (And 2 Reasons They Should) This article originally appeared on Are Pandemic-Era Shopping Shortages Returning? 3 Reasons To Stock Up Now (And 3 Not To)
