Immigration Scams: Notarios, Fake Websites & Phone Fraud
Immigration scammers specifically target Arabic speakers with the misleading word 'notario,' fake lottery sites, and calls impersonating USCIS — here's how to protect yourself and report them.
In short: Never pay anyone to register you for the green card lottery, never trust the word "notario" since it doesn't mean lawyer in the U.S., and never give personal information to a call or message threatening immediate deportation. Verify anyone helping you through a state bar association or the official EOIR list, and report fraud to USCIS and the FTC immediately without fear of it affecting your case.
Why scammers specifically target Arab immigrants
A new immigrant often doesn't know the U.S. legal system well, and may be scared about their status or desperate for a quick fix — a perfect combination for a scammer. Organized fraud rings specifically target non-English-speaking communities through WhatsApp, Facebook, and phone calls, exploiting terms that are familiar and trustworthy back home but completely misleading in the U.S.
The "notario" trap
This is the most famous trap in this space. In Latin America and Spanish-speaking countries, "Notario Publico" means an actual qualified lawyer. But in the U.S., a "Notary Public" is only authorized to certify signatures on documents (like witnessing your signature on a contract) and has no legal standing to give legal advice or represent you before USCIS or in court. Many non-Spanish-speaking communities fall into the same trap too, because the word sounds official and trustworthy. USCIS states explicitly: you don't need a representative to file forms with USCIS, and if you do choose to use one, make sure they're an actually licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Fake green card lottery websites
Registration for the Diversity Visa program is official and completely free through the official government site only. Any site that charges a registration fee, promises to "increase your odds" for a payment, or sends you a message saying you "won" and need to pay a fee to receive your green card, is almost certainly a scam site. No official entity charges a fee just for registering in the lottery or for telling you the result.
Fake calls impersonating USCIS or ICE
A very common pattern: a call from a number that looks official, someone claiming to be a USCIS or ICE officer, telling you there's an urgent problem with your case or an arrest warrant, and demanding immediate payment via gift cards, a wire transfer, or your bank card details to avoid deportation. This is always a scam. U.S. government agencies do not demand instant phone payment this way, and they don't threaten deportation over a random, unofficial call. If you get a call like this:
- Hang up immediately and don't give any personal or financial information.
- Don't call back the number that called you to verify — only use the official numbers listed on uscis.gov.
- Check your actual case status directly through your myUSCIS account if you're genuinely worried.
- Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Warning signs in scam emails
- Spelling or grammar mistakes in a message claiming to be official.
- A sender domain that doesn't end in .gov (like .net, .com, or .info) despite claiming to be from USCIS.
- An offer to expedite your case for an extra fee outside official channels.
- A request to transfer money outside your official myUSCIS account.
If you receive a suspicious message like this, forward it to [email protected] so the official team can investigate it.
How to verify your helper is actually licensed
Before paying anyone for help with an immigration application, verify their standing one of two ways:
- A licensed attorney: look up their name in the Bar Association directory for the state where they practice — every state maintains a public database of licensed attorneys and any disciplinary history.
- A DOJ Accredited Representative: this is an official status for non-attorneys working within DOJ-recognized legal aid organizations. Verify the name and organization through the official EOIR Recognition and Accreditation roster, available as downloadable PDF lists directly from the Department of Justice website.
If a person's name doesn't appear on either list, they are not legally authorized to represent you or give immigration advice — no matter how confident or professional their office looks.
Where to report fraud
| Type of report | Where to send it |
|---|---|
| Fake email or message claiming to be from USCIS | [email protected] |
| General fraud, calls, fake websites | Federal Trade Commission via reportfraud.ftc.gov |
| Fraud by an unlicensed "immigration consultant" or organization | EOIR Fraud Prevention Program: 877-388-3840 or [email protected] |
| General consumer complaints | usa.gov/consumer-complaints |
It's important to know that reporting fraud committed by someone else does not negatively affect your own case at all, as long as you didn't knowingly provide false information yourself. USCIS states this explicitly to encourage victims to report without fear.
Scams inside Arabic Facebook and WhatsApp groups
Many newly arrived Arab families join Facebook or WhatsApp groups for their community looking for trustworthy advice from "people who understand." These groups are genuinely useful for a lot of things, but they're also fertile ground for scammers who play the role of the "helpful person who's helped many before you" and then charge fees to "speed up" your case or claim to "know someone on the inside." No personal connection speeds up an official immigration application — every application is processed according to its own queue and published standards, and anyone claiming otherwise is confidently lying to you.
Fake job offers and visa sponsorship
Another common pattern: a job ad promising to sponsor a work visa (H-1B or otherwise) in exchange for an upfront payment from the applicant themselves to cover "sponsorship fees." Under normal legal practice, the employer bears the cost of sponsoring a work visa in most cases, so a request for payment from the candidate is a strong red flag. It doesn't automatically mean fraud in 100% of cases, but it deserves careful extra verification before transferring any money — including confirming the company actually exists and checking its legal registration.
Common mistakes
- Paying for a "guarantee" that your immigration application will be approved, even though no one can guarantee a USCIS decision.
- Trusting anyone who calls themselves a "notario" without verifying their actual license.
- Giving personal or financial information over the phone in response to a sudden deportation threat.
- Not reporting fraud out of fear it will hurt your case, when the opposite is true.
What to do next
If you genuinely need legal help with an immigration application, start with our guide to finding a licensed immigration attorney or free legal aid instead of searching randomly on Facebook or WhatsApp. If you're tracking a Diversity Visa lottery result, check our guide to checking your DV Lottery status directly from the official source. And if you received an official-looking letter you're unsure about, compare it against what we cover in our guide to recognizing real USCIS and IRS letters before responding.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a 'Notario Publico' and a U.S. immigration lawyer?
In the U.S., a 'Notary Public' is only authorized to witness signatures on documents — they have no legal authority to give immigration advice or represent you. This is completely different from 'Notario Publico' in Latin America and Spanish-speaking countries, where it means an actual lawyer, and that gap deceives many non-English speakers too.
Do I need to pay someone to register me in the DV Lottery?
No, never. Registration in the Diversity Visa program is official and completely free through the official government site only. Any site or person charging a registration fee is running a scam.
Someone called claiming to be from USCIS or ICE demanding immediate payment or I'll be deported — what do I do?
Hang up. U.S. government agencies do not demand instant phone payment via gift cards or wire transfer, and they don't threaten deportation over a random call. Report the call to the FTC immediately.
How do I confirm the person helping with my application is actually licensed?
Check their name against your state's bar association attorney directory, or against the DOJ's list of Accredited Representatives on the official EOIR website.
Does reporting a scammer put my own immigration case at risk?
No. USCIS explicitly states that reporting fraud committed by someone else doesn't negatively affect your own application, as long as you weren't involved.
Where do I report a fake email or text claiming to be from USCIS?
Forward it to [email protected], and also report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by phone at the number listed in our sources.
Official sources we reviewed
- USCIS — Avoid Scams ↗
- DOJ EOIR — Recognition & Accreditation Roster (verify accredited representatives) ↗
- FTC — Report Fraud ↗