FTC Warns Immigrants About Rising Social Media Immigration Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an urgent warning about a surge in immigration scams targeting immigrants and their families on social media platforms like Facebook.

Scammers are impersonating attorneys and law firms, promising immigration services such as work permits, green cards, or even citizenship.

“If you press like or leave a comment, they’ll contact you and guarantee you’ll get a work permit, green card, or citizenship — but it’s a scam,” the FTC warned.

These scams typically begin with social media posts in English or a preferred language, offering help with immigration paperwork. Once someone engages with the post, the scammers contact them directly, guaranteeing successful immigration benefits in exchange for upfront payments through services like Western Union or Zelle.

Victims report being scheduled for fake virtual appointments with a “USCIS officer” via platforms like Zoom or WhatsApp. To enhance the illusion, scammers may even dress in uniforms. However, the FTC emphasizes that while legitimate U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operations include virtual appointments, these are never arranged through messaging apps but are scheduled via official mail or secure MyUSCIS accounts.

1. Use Official Sources: Always visit USCIS.gov for accurate and up-to-date immigration information. Pending applications or petitions can be tracked through the official website
2. Recognize Fake Government Websites: Scammers often create fake sites that mimic official government pages. Ensure the web address ends in ".gov" to confirm legitimacy
3. Verify Payment Methods: USCIS accepts specific payment methods for filing fees. Requests for payment through Western Union, Zelle, or other unconventional methods are red flags
4. Leverage Scam Detection Tools: Tools like Bitdefender Scamio can identify fake websites and suspicious links in real time, providing alerts when encountering potentially malicious URLs or fraudulent pages

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