Protect Yourself

Scams targeting immigrants occur more often than you think, so be sure to protect yourself, your personal information, and your finances. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are approached by someone presenting themselves as a lawyer or receive an email, text message, or piece of mail saying:
  • a special law has been passed in your state to grant you citizenship, send us a check to learn more.
  • Congress has passed a new, secret policy to protect immigrants. Send us the enclosed amount to get citizenship today.
  • we can review and fast-track your citizenship case today for the enclosed amount.
Always check with a professional first.
 
In the United States, only an immigration attorney or someone authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) can give you immigration advice.
 
Scammers try to confuse immigrants by calling themselves notario, notary public, accountant, or consultant. Visit our Legal Resources page for a list of organizations that are recognized by the DOJ and are authorized to give you legal advice about the immigration process. They can help you decipher what is true and what is a scam.
 
Never give money or your personal information to an individual over the phone, by mail, or by text message without contacting an attorney or accredited representative working for an organization recognized by the DOJ first.
 
Visit the National Immigrant Justice Center website on avoiding scams and fraud for more information, helpful phone numbers, links, and videos.
 
The American Bar Association videos offer suggestions on avoiding immigration scams in several languages including Spanish, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, and more. If you are exploring options to obtain lawful status in the United States or are preparing to appear in immigration court, keep important facts in mind by watching these videos.
 
Find examples of immigration scams, a link to report immigration scams, and a link to order free copies of a graphic novel in Spanish on how to spot and avoid notario scams from the Federal Trade Commission.