Delma Baugh-Walker wanted to give her brother an opportunity to earn money in the U.S. When she heard about a program that could bring him from Jamaica to work in Orlando’s hospitality industry, she paid thousands of dollars to facilitate the visa process.
“People will do anything. They’ll sell their clothes to get an opportunity to come to this country,” she told WFTV Channel 9 in a story published Jan. 22 (1).
A year later, Baugh-Walker’s brother remains in Jamaica. She’s out $3,500, and believes she was taken for a ride.
Baugh-Walker sent one payment to Carters Hospitality Services LLC and two payments directly to someone named Marsha Williams-Herman, according to Channel 9. The broadcaster, citing state records, reports Carters Hospitality is registered to Williams-Herman and another person.
“From my understanding, Marsha was the one who was responsible for the program,” Baugh-Walker said.
After paying, Channel 9 says her brother met with people in Jamaica and handed over his passport, but he hasn’t heard anything since. When Baugh-Walker tried recovering her money, she received messages claiming the funds had been passed to someone else.
Channel 9 reports it tracked down Williams-Herman at the address of a different business registered in her name. She initially denied her identity before admitting who she was and that she owned Carters Hospitality. She also claimed she didn’t remember receiving Baugh-Walker’s money and denied running a scam.
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Federal law is straightforward about who can provide immigration legal services. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, only two categories of people are authorized:
Licensed attorneys: Lawyers admitted to practice in any U.S. state, territory or the District of Columbia who are in good standing and not disbarred.
Accredited representatives: These are reps who work for organizations on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) official list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives.
Orlando immigration attorney Gail Seeram told Channel 9 that scams are rampant, and people should exercise caution and due diligence to ensure they’re working with a reputable company. The broadcaster reports that neither Williams-Herman’s name nor her businesses appear on the list of approved organizations and representatives.
Immigration scams can share common characteristics with other fraud schemes that are important to watch for. These include guarantees of success (no legitimate agent can promise this), claims of special connections, pressure to act immediately, no contracts detailing services and demands of payment through nontraditional means. Baugh-Walker made payments via Zelle and CashApp, which Seeram identified as a red flag, according to Channel 9.
Before hiring anyone, request credentials in writing, verify their status through official databases and insist on formal contracts.
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WFTV Channel 9 (1)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.