(InvestigateTV) — Law enforcement is warning about scammers who target people looking for immigration help.
Keith Conley, chief of the Kenner Police Department in Louisiana, said a woman came to police after responding to a Facebook ad for someone claiming to offer immigration-related legal help.
“It’s a shame that this working mother of two, who was trying to do the right thing to become legal in this country, is now scammed out of close to $7,000, her identity, and God knows what else,” Conley said.
Conley said the suspect took the woman’s money for a year, giving promises of citizenship, work visas and social security numbers for her and her two children.
He added investigators believe the deception went further.
“At one point, she was introduced by a Zoom call to a gentleman who was dressed up like a Border Patrol officer with the outer carrier, had a banner behind him that displayed the officer’s likeness and logo and things of that nature to give her the impression she was actually talking to a U.S. Border Patrol agent who made promises, again, assertions for money, but also captured her biometrics that he said he needed for the process,” Conley said.
Investigators identified a suspect in Florida, arrested him and brought him back to Louisiana. Reported charges include bank fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, computer fraud, false personation and theft.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says only attorneys and people accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice who work for recognized organizations can give immigration legal advice.
The FTC also says not to sign blank immigration forms or forms with false information.
You can check your state bar to see whether someone is licensed to practice law.
Be cautious if someone asks for money through social media, gift cards, wire transfers or payment apps.
“No government agency takes money over the internet. No government agency is going to ask for gift cards. No government agency is, or banking industry, branch, banking branch, loaning institution. Nobody’s going to conduct business in that manner. So that’s a red flag,” Conley said.
You can report immigration scams to local law enforcement, your state consumer protection office and the Federal Trade Commission. U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) says reporting scams will not affect your immigration application or petition.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.