TLDR
Scammer poses as USCIS, ICE or 'notario público' offering DV lottery win, expedited green card, or threatening deportation unless fee is paid. FTC + DOJ: immigration scams cost vulnerable communities $20M+ annually; 'notario' fraud is...
How it works
Scammer poses as USCIS, ICE or 'notario público' offering DV lottery win, expedited green card, or threatening deportation unless fee is paid. FTC + DOJ: immigration scams cost vulnerable communities $20M+ annually; 'notario' fraud is...
Red flags
- Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.
- A link or sender that does not match the official organization.
- Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What to do
- 1WHAT TO DO: USCIS uses paper mail and accepts only check or credit card via Pay.gov; verify attorneys on state bar + AILA; only use accredited reps via DOJ EOIR.
- 2IF VICTIM: report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, uscis.gov/scams, state bar against notario.
Source
FTC
Source reviewed by Mythos Forensic Team
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scams-against-immigrantsFAQ
Is Immigration / visa fraud — fake USCIS lottery and 'notario' a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.; A link or sender that does not match the official organization.; Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What should I do first?
WHAT TO DO: USCIS uses paper mail and accepts only check or credit card via Pay.gov; verify attorneys on state bar + AILA; only use accredited reps via DOJ EOIR.; IF VICTIM: report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, uscis.gov/scams, state bar against notario.
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.