Alleged scammers use fake lawyers and fake courts to prey on immigrants

[0:00] Welcome back, everyone. Increased immigration enforcement operations by the Trump administration have given rise to a new slew of alleged scams that seek to prey on desperate immigrants, tricking them into hiring lawyers who turn out to be fake and even go online for fake hearings in fake courts. [0:16] But they already say the only real part is the money the victims are losing. Our chief investigative correspondent Aaron Katursky has this story. [0:23] At a quick glance, this looks like a real courtroom. There's the judge on the bench, the seal in the background. [0:31] And this looks like a legit immigration proceeding, with an officer in uniform, the agency logo on the wall. [0:38] But authorities and lawyers say this is all fake, part of a trend of sophisticated scams to take advantage of vulnerable people desperate for help. [0:46] People like Edith, a young mother of one-year-old Justin. [0:51] This is one of the few happy moments for Edith and her son, who lost everything to a scammer. [0:57] The 20-year-old mother sold her car and emptied her savings to pay someone she thought was a lawyer who could help her husband, Demas. [1:12] Demas, who is undocumented, is in immigration detention. [1:15] Desperate for help, Edith, an American citizen who lived most of her life in Guatemala, turned to social media, where she found a woman who claimed to be a lawyer in Florida. [1:34] The woman's name was similar to a real California immigration attorney. [1:37] But that's not who Edith began talking to on WhatsApp. [1:40] The woman kept in constant touch and asked Edith to fill out form after form, including these, purportedly from the federal agency that handles immigration services. [1:56] But the agency told ABC News it did not send those messages. [1:59] With every phone call and each new form, Edith believed she was closer to getting her husband released. [2:05] And she sent multiple payments. [2:07] Edith paid more than $10,000, but last month at a critical immigration hearing, the supposed lawyer did not show. [2:27] Edith fell victim to a growing trend of scams, seizing on the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda. [2:48] They have a virtual hearing and they will do anything using artificial intelligence, using these, you know, made up studios to make them believe that they are engaging with a real, they're having a real legitimate experience. [3:06] Jorge Rivera is an immigration lawyer in Miami. [3:09] The woman who allegedly scammed Edith listed his law firm's address as hers. [3:13] In my experience, this is a billion dollar industry. [3:18] And this is the vulnerability of the immigration victims. [3:22] They are ready to believe and because they have hope. [3:26] And when somebody offers them hope, that's when they become the victim. [3:30] In New York, five defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges accusing them of holding sham immigration proceedings, including asylum interviews and court appearances. [3:38] According to the complaint, several of these fictitious proceedings featured impersonators of immigration judges. [3:45] They wore judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms and appeared in front of backgrounds that resembled courtrooms and government offices, including featuring agency seals and flags. [3:55] Prosecutors said one victim ended up skipping a real immigration hearing and was deported. [4:00] In this case came to our agent's attention in September. [4:04] And in Orlando, four people are facing charges, accusing them of setting up a fake law firm and extorting more than $20 million from victims. [4:12] Law enforcement officials involved in raiding the firm, seen here, said the suspects were accused of improperly filing immigration applications and charging significant fees. [4:22] They have not yet entered pleas. [4:23] In Miami, Rivera says some victims are showing up in person at his office. [4:28] They'll travel to our office. [4:31] And they'll say, OK, but what happened to my case? [4:33] And we paid for the case. [4:35] And they thought that they were dealing with us. [4:36] It's been very challenging and damaging to our reputation and to the reputation of other attorneys. [4:42] Because if they impersonate you, then people think that you defrauded them when you have nothing to do with what's going on. [4:48] Rivera says the Trump administration's immigration policies are creating a perfect storm for scammers. [4:53] With the current administration, a lot of doors have closed. [4:57] First, undoubtedly, it's more difficult to be able to resolve your immigration status. [5:02] In a statement to ABC News, the Department of Homeland Security said scammers are pretending to be federal immigration officials to trick people into giving them money. [5:11] The agency said officials will never call out of the blue, demand money or accept payments using gift cards or cryptocurrency. [5:18] The scammers are also cashing in on the good name of those who want to help, like Catholic charities. [5:25] When did you first start hearing about scams associated with the kind of help you're providing? [5:33] It's really been over the past year or so that we started hearing reports of people claiming to be Catholic charities and other organizations that provide legal services to immigrants and refugees [5:49] and using social media to fraudulently offer services, express urgency, ask for money. [5:59] And they're trading on your good name in some cases, right? [6:05] They are. They're posing as, at times, Catholic charities agencies, Catholic Charities USA. [6:12] But what is so distressing to us is that these are families, and when they're looking for help, they're being taken advantage of and defrauded. [6:21] For Edith, time is running out. [6:24] She shared this voice message that she says she received from the woman telling her not to lose faith and that God will reward her. [6:47] But her faith is slipping. [6:49] Last week, an immigration judge ordered her husband deported. [6:52] Edith went to police, hoping others will avoid putting trust in the wrong people. [7:04] We tried to get in contact with the woman who allegedly took advantage of Edith. [7:08] You're going to try and message this woman. [7:11] That's right. So I have a message ready. [7:14] It says, hi, good afternoon. [7:16] I am reaching out to consult you about your legal services that you are offering. [7:20] I'd appreciate any information about pricing and the legal services that you offer. [7:26] Now, should we send? [7:28] Let's send it. [7:29] She did not respond to ABC News. [7:34] Edith has no resources to pay a real lawyer, so she is waiting for word her husband is sent back to Guatemala. [7:41] It's very unfair and I don't dare it to anyone. [7:43] It's more than a person alone and without support. [7:46] It's not easy. [7:46] Thank you. [7:47] Thank you. [7:47] Thank you. [7:48] Thank you.