Scams That Target Immigrants, Renters, and Job Seekers

In many Latin American countries, a notario público is a lawyer with special training. In the United States, a notary public is very different. A notary only checks your ID and watches you sign papers. A notary cannot give legal advice or help you choose immigration forms.

Some businesses use the word "notario," or call themselves "immigration consultants," so that they seem like lawyers. They charge high fees, fill out the wrong forms, or add false information. Mistakes like these can hurt your case and cost you money, and they can be hard to fix.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says only these people may give you legal advice and represent you on immigration matters:

• A licensed attorney. You can check a lawyer's license with the bar or court system of the state where they say they are licensed.
• An accredited representative who works for a nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Department of Justice publishes a list of these organizations and representatives by state.

Warning signs of notario fraud

• They promise you will get a green card, a work permit, or asylum.
• They say they have a special friend at USCIS or can make your case go faster.
• They charge you for blank government forms.
• They ask you to sign a blank form, or a form with information that is not true.
• They keep your passport, birth certificate, or other original documents.
• They will not give you a written contract or a receipt.

Where to find real help

The U.S. Department of Justice keeps a list of free legal service providers for people in immigration court, and a list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives. In the DC area, nonprofits such as Ayuda, with offices in DC, Silver Spring, and Fairfax, offer immigration legal services to people with low incomes.

Scammers pretend to be from USCIS, an embassy, the IRS, or the police. They may know your name, your address, or even your case number. They say there is a problem with your case, your status, or your taxes. They say you must pay a fee or a fine today, or you will be arrested or deported.

Here are the facts from USCIS, the IRS, and the Department of State:

• Immigration forms are free. You can download every USCIS form from uscis.gov.
• USCIS will never ask you to send money to a person. It does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards for immigration fees.
• Emails from USCIS come from addresses that end in .gov.
• The IRS usually contacts you first by mail. A direct message on social media is never from the IRS.
• The Diversity Visa lottery is run by the U.S. Department of State, not USCIS. The State Department does not email people to say they were selected. Winners are picked at random by computer, so no website or person can raise your chances. The only official website for entering is dvprogram.state.gov.

In 2025 and 2026, the State Department changed some lottery rules and delayed the start of the next entry period. Always check the State Department's website, travel.state.gov, for current dates and rules. Do not trust a website or social media post that offers to enter you for a fee.

If you get a call like this, you can use these words and then hang up:

"I do not discuss my case or make payments over the phone. I will contact USCIS myself, through my online account or the phone number on uscis.gov."

When you need work, a fast job offer feels like good news. Scammers know this. Watch for these common tricks:

• Pay to work. You must pay for training, a background check, a uniform, or a "starter kit" before you start. The FTC says honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job.
• The equipment check. The "employer" mails you a check to buy a laptop or supplies from their "vendor." You deposit the check and send money to the vendor. The check is fake, and you owe the bank.
• Reshipping. You receive packages at home and mail them to another address. The goods were often bought with stolen card numbers.
• Task scams. A surprise text or WhatsApp message offers pay to "rate" or "boost" products online. You are paid a little at first, usually $5 to $20. Then you are told to deposit your own money, often in crypto, to unlock more tasks or your earnings.

The FTC advises ignoring surprise job offers that come by text, WhatsApp, or Telegram. Before you accept any job, search the company name with the words "scam" or "complaint," and find the company's phone number on your own.

A money mule is a person who receives money and moves it on for someone else. The money usually comes from fraud victims. Criminals find mules through online job ads, dating apps, social media, and fake prize offers.

The request sounds easy: "My client will send $3,000 to your bank account. Keep $300 for your work, and send the rest by wire, gift cards, or crypto." Or they ask you to open a new bank account for them.

Knowingly moving money for criminals can lead to criminal charges. The FBI warns that even people who did not know can get into legal trouble, have trouble opening a bank account later, and become victims of identity theft.

If you think this is happening to you, stop talking to the person. Do not send the money on. Tell your bank right away, and report it to the FTC and to law enforcement, such as the FBI at ic3.gov.

Rent in the DC area is high, so a cheap listing is exciting. Scammers copy real listings and change the price and the contact information. For example, a two-bedroom apartment in Columbia Heights is listed for $1,300 a month, much less than similar apartments nearby. The "owner" says he is working overseas and cannot show it. He says he will mail the keys after you send the deposit and first month's rent, $2,600 in all, by wire or payment app.

Before you pay for a rental

• See the place in person, or send a trusted friend. If you cannot go, ask for a live video tour.
• Compare the rent with similar places nearby. A much lower price is a warning sign.
• Look up who owns the property in public property records. DC, Maryland, and many Virginia counties and cities have free online property searches.
• If a company manages the building, call the number on the company's own website to check the listing.
• Search the owner's or company's name with the words "scam" or "complaint."
• Get a written lease before you pay a deposit, and get a receipt for every payment.
• Never pay by wire, gift card, or crypto. The FTC says paying this way is like sending cash: once the money is gone, you probably cannot get it back.

To learn more about leases and deposits, see our lesson on renters' rights.