Federal authorities are warning that scammers are increasingly targeting immigrants by impersonating immigration attorneys, border patrol agents, and other officials in an attempt to extort money. The rise in these fraudulent schemes coincides with intensified immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration, which have heightened fears among both undocumented and legal immigrants.
The Federal Trade Commission has received reports of scammers contacting immigrants and falsely claiming that they are under investigation or at risk of deportation, Axios reports. Some scammers tell their victims that a drug shipment bearing their name has been intercepted, while others claim that a loved one in detention can be released on bail if a payment is made. Victims are then urged to send money through services like Western Union or Zelle.
