Key Takeaways
• Fraud complaints against immigration providers in NYC rose from 21 in 2023 to 58 in early 2024.
• Scammers target asylum seekers with fake legal help, notario fraud, and misleading service ads.
• New laws propose fines up to $7,500 and greater public education against fraudulent immigration schemes.
Asylum seekers in New York City 🇺🇸 are facing increasing threats from fraudulent schemes. These tricks and scams come in many forms, hurting people who have already gone through so much to get to the United States 🇺🇸. As more migrants arrive in the city, the number of complaints about scams and fraud is higher than ever before. People pretending to be lawyers, fake service centers, and “notarios” (who claim to be legal helpers but are not) are all finding ways to take money and hope from those who need real help.
A City Overrun by Fraudulent Schemes
Since 2022, more than 220,000 migrants have arrived in New York City 🇺🇸. Many are asylum seekers—people fleeing their home countries for safety, hoping for protection under U.S. law. These newcomers face many challenges like language barriers, not knowing how the legal system works, and having little money. All of these things make them easy targets for people running fraudulent schemes.
The number of fraud complaints about immigration service providers more than doubled in just one year. According to reports, there were 21 complaints in 2023, but by the first half of 2024, there had already been at least 58 complaints. These numbers show just how widespread the problem has become. Along with the fears of deportation, this has left many people feeling even more scared and unsure about whom they can trust.
How Do These Schemes Work?
1. Fake Immigration Attorneys and Legal Helpers
One of the most common schemes involves people pretending to be lawyers or experts in immigration law. Some use Spanish and WhatsApp groups to reach out to new arrivals, promising fast help. They charge thousands of dollars for “legal help” but either do nothing at all or provide advice that turns out to be fake or harmful.
Some are even licensed attorneys who break the law. For example, a lawyer in Queens, New York City 🇺🇸, was found guilty of sending in more than 100 fake asylum applications between 2013 and 2017. People have also been found coaching clients to lie about their life story, forging signatures, and even making up events of persecution or danger.
2. Notario Fraud
Many people from other countries are familiar with the term “notario.” In Spanish-speaking countries, this word means someone who is licensed and respected, like a lawyer or notary. But in the United States 🇺🇸, “notarios” are not allowed to give legal advice or represent people in court.
Scammers use this confusion. They pretend to be real legal professionals and promise quick results or special access to immigration offices. Some charge thousands of dollars but then never deliver any actual services. In many cases, after taking the money, these “notarios” disappear or simply stop answering calls and messages.
3. Asylum Application Fraud by Licensed Professionals
Even some real lawyers and professionals abuse their power. There have been groups of attorneys, especially in Chinese communities, who encourage people to lie in their asylum applications. These lawyers prepare fake stories, coach people to lie under oath, and even forge documents to serve more clients and collect more money.
4. Affinity Scams
Some fraudsters use shared language, culture, or ethnicity to build trust, a trick known as affinity fraud. For example, scammers target Chinese-speaking asylum seekers in New York City 🇺🇸 by pretending to be embassy officials, family friends, or community leaders. They use this trust to get people to hand over money or personal information.
5. Misleading Ads and Undelivered Services
Another major problem is false advertising. Some “service centers” or companies promise quick or guaranteed results. They often charge huge fees for filling out simple paperwork, but after receiving payment, they fail to deliver any real assistance. Sometimes, these businesses say they have connections inside immigration offices but actually have no real power.
Real Stories: The Human Cost
These scams can destroy dreams, cost people their life savings, and prevent families from reuniting. Here is a clear example:
“Karina learned of a ‘service center’…the notario promises…to help fight her deportation order…and assist her son’s visa application…[she] ultimately paid a total $4,500…She never receives correspondence from USCIS; the notario stops answering her inquiries…”
Karina’s story shows not just the money lost, but also her hope for legal safety and bringing her family together slipping away because of a fraudulent scheme.
Why Are Fraudulent Schemes on the Rise?
A few reasons help explain why so many people are being targeted:
- Rising numbers of asylum seekers: As more people arrive in New York City 🇺🇸, there are more potential victims who need help with paperwork, court dates, and immigration processes.
- Lack of knowledge: Many new arrivals do not know the rules, do not speak English well, and have little experience with the United States 🇺🇸 legal system.
- Fear and anxiety: There is growing worry about being sent back or separated from family. This fear makes people desperate for any help, which can make them easy victims for fraudsters.
- Low supply of free or low-cost legal aid: With so many people needing help, real lawyers and non-profits are stretched thin. Fraudsters can promise quick help when no one else can.
Facts and Figures at a Glance
- Over 220,000 migrants arrived in New York City 🇺🇸 since 2022.
- Complaints about immigration fraud in the city jumped from 21 in 2023 to at least 58 in the first part of 2024.
- Scammers have stolen thousands of dollars at a time from individuals, often leaving them with no way to get real legal help.
What Are Authorities Doing to Stop These Schemes?
The city, state, and federal governments are responding to this crisis with laws, enforcement, and information campaigns.
Legislative Efforts
- The New York City 🇺🇸 Council is working on new bills. One would require more public information about immigration scams so that asylum seekers know their rights. Another bill would raise the fines for fraudulent providers from $500 up to $7,500 for every violation. This is to warn those who would cheat people that there are serious consequences.
Legal Enforcement
- The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is taking action against people who run these schemes. This includes prosecuting fake attorneys as well as those who tell clients to lie or fake documents.
- The DA’s office also offers a hotline (212-335-3600) so victims can get real legal help and report scams.
Reporting Mechanisms
People who believe they have been targeted or hurt by a scam can get help in safe, confidential ways:
- Call 311 to reach the New York City 🇺🇸 Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, which can investigate scams and offer advice.
- NYPD Police Stations allow people to report fraud even if they are worried about their own immigration status—no questions asked about that.
- USCIS Tip Form, available online, lets people report benefit fraud directly to U.S. immigration authorities. More details are available on the USCIS official reporting page.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that these reporting channels are designed so that victims do not have to be afraid of being punished or deported if they come forward.
How Can Asylum Seekers and Immigrants Protect Themselves?
Here are some important steps for avoiding these costly and damaging scams:
- Always check credentials. Ask anyone offering legal help for their license information. Look them up on official government websites to see if they are a real attorney or recognized legal aid provider.
- Do not trust quick fixes or guaranteed results. U.S. immigration processes are often slow and complex. Anyone who promises an “easy win” or has “special contacts” at USCIS may be lying.
- Avoid paying large amounts upfront. Reputable lawyers and service providers are clear about fees and usually do not ask for full payment before any work is done.
- Be careful with WhatsApp groups and online advertisements. Many scams start with friendly messages or posts in community chats and social media platforms.
- Report scams. If you think you have been approached by a scammer, use one of the reporting options above. Authorities can help get your money back in some cases or stop the scammer from hurting others.
Community Education: An Ongoing Need
Education and information are two of the best tools against fraudulent schemes. City leaders are working to spread the word in many languages and through outreach events. These efforts help people know their rights, understand how to look for warning signs, and where to get real help.
Local non-profits, religious groups, and immigrant rights advocates are playing a big role as well. They give free or low-cost legal advice, help people check if someone is a real lawyer, and can even connect victims with police or government aid if they have already lost money.
The Long-Term Impact on New York City
Fraudulent schemes do not just hurt individuals. When asylum seekers lose money and trust, it affects entire communities. Families may be separated for longer. People who get bad legal advice may lose their chance to stay in the country, even if they have a real case for asylum.
Broken trust makes it harder for good service providers to do their work. Plus, these crimes waste public resources, as city workers have to spend time investigating fraud instead of providing needed services.
Next Steps and Call to Action
Stopping these scams will take a team effort—government workers, non-profits, legal experts, and everyday people must work together. For those in New York City 🇺🇸 seeking asylum or immigration help:
- Take time to find real, qualified legal help.
- Lean on trusted organizations like the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs for information.
- If you think something is wrong, trust your instincts and ask questions. Get a second opinion before handing over money or documents.
- Share what you have learned with friends and family so that they do not fall for the same tricks.
Authorities and service organizations want immigrant communities to know they are not alone. Reporting fraud is not only safe but can help protect others. Remember, real help is available. Never give up hope or let fear stop you from seeking real legal advice and support.
By staying alert, spreading the word, and reporting suspicious activity, everyone can help reduce fraudulent schemes and make New York City 🇺🇸 safer for all asylum seekers and new arrivals. For more information or to report suspected benefit fraud directly, visit the USCIS Tip Form page.
In the end, the fight against these schemes is not just about stopping crime—it is about giving people a fair chance at the new life they came for, keeping families together, and building a city where newcomers can truly be safe and welcome.
Learn Today
Asylum seekers → People fleeing danger in their home country and requesting protection under U.S. law upon arrival.
Notario fraud → Scams where individuals falsely use the title ‘notario’ to claim they can offer legal immigration assistance.
Affinity fraud → Fraudsters exploit shared language, culture, or religion to gain victims’ trust and commit scams.
USCIS → U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency processing immigration and asylum applications in the United States.
Benefit fraud → Illegally obtaining or attempting to obtain immigration benefits by providing false information or documents.
This Article in a Nutshell
Asylum seekers in New York City face an alarming rise in scams, from fake lawyers to fraudulent “notarios.” Fraud complaints have more than doubled in one year. City leaders respond with tougher laws, enforcement, and education to protect migrants. Vigilance, verified legal help, and reporting scams remain essential defenses.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Trump administration speeds up asylum denials and deportations
• European Union lists seven countries as safe for asylum changes
• Senate Bill 846 Raises Alarms for Chinese Asylum Seekers
• Germany weighs emergency EU powers to address asylum seekers rise
• Quebec Premier François Legault warns of limits on asylum support
