NYC announces plan to crack down on scams targeting asylum seekers
Newsy
Authorities say scammers, many of them perpetrating the fraud in Spanish, are using communications platforms to prey on those in need.
Authorities in New York say they are putting an intense focus on scams that target migrants, including those attempting to seek asylum in the U.S., and who are in desperate need of housing and work.
Recently, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said a 33-year-old man who was posing as an immigration attorney was indicted for taking thousands of dollars from migrants he'd scammed.
In a January announcement by the Manhattan DA, Pablo Israel Ortega Cuenca was accused of preying on people in New York who sought to become permanent residents.
New York authorities are urging people to use a new tool provided by the state to seek legitimate legal services. They are asking people who believe they have been a victim of immigration fraud to contact New York's Immigration Affairs Unit at 212-335-3600, or by using WhatsApp at 347-371-0877.
Authorities say scams that target members of migrant communities are often perpetrated by people who purport to be immigration service providers but are not licensed. Individuals who say they are ICE agents and claim to offer special services to stay out of trouble should also be reported.
