Advocates want social media policies that target impersonator accounts and remove fraudulent content in Spanish and other languages.
Local immigrant communities are confronting a disturbing uptick in fraud schemes in which scammers masquerade as immigration officials or lawyers, fueling anxiety and straining finances in households already alarmed by shifting federal policies.
Baltimore’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has received widespread reports of fraudulent notices informing recipients of immigration appointments at City Hall.
In reality, the municipal building plays no role in such proceedings.
Meanwhile, organizations like CASA, which assists immigrants, have identified an uptick in telephone and text scams demanding immediate payment to resolve fabricated “deportation orders.” Many victims transfer sums of thousands of dollars before realizing they are fraudulent.
Advocates attribute the proliferation of these scams to policy changes that have heightened deportation fears since the second Trump administration arrived last January, leaving many immigrants especially vulnerable to manipulation.
In one reported case, a single individual lost her life savings of nearly $10,000 after sending funds to scammers who claimed they could “fix” her immigration status, WBAL reports.
Scammers also exploit social media platforms, posing as attorneys on TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp to lure victims with counterfeit legal advice.
Impostor accounts, fake court filings, and sham virtual hearings have been used to prey on immigrants, with financial losses ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, the Washington Post reported in June.
Immigration advocates are stressing the critical importance of reporting scams.
Community groups are responding by organizing “Know Your Rights” sessions to educate residents on how to verify official communications, detect fraudulent documents, and report incidents to the authorities.
Still, many victims remain silent.
Their fear of deportation, compounded by embarrassment or mistrust of law enforcement and government agencies, prevents many from coming forward.
However, without widespread reporting, organizers say, scammers continue to spread unchecked, and the community remains unaware of the full extent of the problem.
As a result, advocates are calling for stronger accountability from social media platforms.
They want overt policies that target impersonator accounts, and more aggressive takedowns of fraudulent content in Spanish and other languages.
