A national briefing hosted by American Community Media on March 27, 2026, brought urgent attention to a growing crisis affecting immigrant communities across the United States: a sharp rise in sophisticated scams that exploit fear, uncertainty, and legal vulnerability.

Moderated by Pilar Marrero, the virtual briefing featured two leading experts in consumer protection, Monica Vaca, former Deputy Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Kati Daffan, a consumer and civil rights attorney and former FTC leader. Together, they outlined how these scams operate, why immigrants are being targeted, and what families can do to protect themselves.

A Crisis Fueled by Fear and Urgency

Opening the discussion, Marrero framed the issue as both urgent and deeply concerning.

“Today we’re looking at the steep rise in scams targeting immigrants across the US,” she said. “What kinds of scams are these? Why are immigrants especially vulnerable? What can people do to protect themselves?”

According to Vaca, the answer lies in moments of crisis.

“What we heard was really disturbing and incredibly alarming,” she said. “We are hearing about lots and lots of scams targeting immigrants, targeting families when they are put into detention, and targeting some of the most vulnerable people out there.”

She explained that scammers are exploiting emotional distress, particularly when a loved one is suddenly detained by immigration authorities.

“When people are experiencing heightened emotional distress, we know that they are particularly susceptible to a scam,” Vaca said. “Someone tells them they can help relieve that stress, and that is where the fraud begins.”

Highly Sophisticated and Organized Fraud

Daffan described how these scams have evolved far beyond simple deception. Today’s operations are complex, coordinated, and highly convincing.

“Scammers can show up if you’re searching for a lawyer online,” she said. “One common strand among all the scammers is they will promise they can assure success.”

She detailed cases where scammers impersonate attorneys, create fake law firms, and even stage fake immigration hearings.

“We have heard about Zoom calls where it looks like there’s an immigration judge hearing a case,” Daffan explained. “We have heard about fake orders to release someone on bond and even fake receipts.”

These tactics are designed to build trust and push victims into paying large sums of money. Families have reported losing thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in the process.

Payment Traps and Red Flags

A key part of the fraud involves how scammers collect money. Instead of asking for one large payment, they request smaller amounts over time.

“They will ask for a retainer fee, then money for a bond application, then thousands more for the bond itself,” Daffan said. “During the whole course of this fraud, there may be multiple people involved playing different roles.”

She warned that certain payment methods should raise immediate concern.

“These scammers often ask for payment through methods that are hard to reverse,” she said. “That includes wire transfers, Zelle, cash apps, cryptocurrency, or even gift cards.”

Another major warning sign is guaranteed success.

“No one can guarantee a successful outcome in immigration proceedings,” Daffan emphasized. “If someone is making those promises, that is a red flag.”

The Role of Social Media and Online Searches

Both speakers stressed that many scams begin online, particularly through social media and paid advertisements.

“A lot of the costliest scams are starting on social media these days,” Vaca said. “People are looking for help in a moment of desperation, and that is where they encounter fraud.”

Daffan added that even search engines can mislead users.

“Some of the first results you see online may actually be paid advertisements,” she said. “They can look like government agencies, but they are not.”

Preparing Before a Crisis Happens

One of the most important messages from the briefing was the need for preparation before an emergency occurs.

Vaca urged families to take steps to protect their financial stability.

“Make sure that family members have access to bank accounts if someone is detained,” she said. “Consider adding another adult to the account or using a limited power of attorney.”

She also recommended planning ahead for legal representation.

“Look for a reputable immigration lawyer now, before anything happens,” Vaca said. “It will be much easier to act from a trusted list than to search in a moment of panic.”

Reporting and Community Awareness

For those who have already been scammed, Daffan emphasized the importance of acting quickly.

“The first thing you should do is contact the payment provider,” she said. “If you used a bank, call your bank. If you used a payment app, contact them immediately.”

She also encouraged reporting fraud, even if victims feel hesitant.

“You can work with a trusted organization to file a report on your behalf,” Daffan explained. “That allows the information to be shared without exposing the victim directly.”

Beyond reporting, both speakers highlighted the power of community awareness.

“People who have heard about a scam are much less likely to fall victim to it,” Daffan said. “Talking about these scams can protect others.”

A Growing and Predictable Threat

The rise in scams is not accidental. According to the speakers, fraud tends to follow moments of public crisis.

“Every time there is something stressful or newsworthy, scammers figure out how to take advantage of it,” Daffan said.

With increased immigration enforcement and detention, that opportunity has grown.

“This is a criminal issue,” Vaca said. “These are people preying on families in distress and using impersonation and deception to steal their money.”

As immigrant communities navigate an increasingly complex legal landscape, the message from the briefing was clear: awareness, preparation, and trusted resources are the strongest defenses against fraud.

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El aumento de estafas dirigidas a inmigrantes genera alarma a nivel nacional

Por Our Voces Staff

Un informe nacional organizado por American Community Media el 27 de marzo de 2026 puso en evidencia una crisis creciente que afecta a comunidades inmigrantes en todo Estados Unidos: el aumento significativo de estafas altamente sofisticadas que aprovechan el miedo, la incertidumbre y la vulnerabilidad legal.

El evento, moderado por Pilar Marrero, contó con la participación de dos expertas en protección al consumidor, Monica Vaca, ex subdirectora de la Comisión Federal de Comercio, y Kati Daffan, abogada de derechos civiles y del consumidor. Ambas explicaron cómo operan estas estafas, por qué los inmigrantes son blanco frecuente y qué medidas pueden tomar las familias para protegerse.

Una crisis impulsada por el miedo

Marrero abrió la conversación destacando la urgencia del problema.

“Hoy estamos analizando el aumento de estafas dirigidas a inmigrantes en todo el país”, dijo. “Qué tipo de estafas son, por qué los inmigrantes son más vulnerables y qué se puede hacer para prevenirlas”.

Según Vaca, el punto clave está en los momentos de crisis emocional.

“Lo que escuchamos fue realmente alarmante”, explicó. “Hay numerosas estafas dirigidas a inmigrantes, especialmente cuando un familiar es detenido, afectando a personas en situaciones extremadamente vulnerables”.

Agregó que los estafadores aprovechan el estrés emocional.

“Cuando las personas están en angustia, son más susceptibles a creer en alguien que promete ayudarles”, dijo.

Estafas cada vez más sofisticadas

Daffan explicó que estas estafas han evolucionado significativamente.

“Los estafadores prometen éxito garantizado”, señaló. “Aseguran que pueden sacar a un familiar de detención o resolver problemas legales”.

Algunos casos incluyen tácticas extremadamente elaboradas.

“Hemos visto audiencias falsas por Zoom con supuestos jueces, órdenes de liberación falsas y recibos falsificados”, dijo. “Todo diseñado para parecer real”.

Las víctimas pueden perder miles o incluso decenas de miles de dólares.

Señales de alerta y métodos de pago

Una estrategia común es pedir pagos en etapas.

“Empiezan con una tarifa inicial, luego piden más dinero para trámites y después cantidades mayores para fianzas”, explicó Daffan.

También advirtió sobre métodos de pago sospechosos.

“Transferencias, Zelle, aplicaciones de pago, criptomonedas o tarjetas de regalo son señales claras de alerta”, dijo.

Otra señal crítica es la promesa de resultados garantizados.

“Nadie puede garantizar un resultado en un proceso migratorio”, afirmó.

Redes sociales como puerta de entrada

Muchas estafas comienzan en internet.

“Las redes sociales son uno de los principales puntos de origen”, dijo Vaca. “Las personas buscan ayuda y ahí es donde encuentran el fraude”.

Daffan añadió que incluso los buscadores pueden ser engañosos.

“Muchos resultados son anuncios pagados que parecen oficiales pero no lo son”, explicó.

Prepararse antes de una emergencia

Las expertas enfatizaron la importancia de prepararse con anticipación.

“Es importante que otros miembros de la familia tengan acceso a cuentas bancarias”, dijo Vaca. “También considerar un poder legal limitado”.

Además, recomendó identificar abogados confiables con anticipación.

“Es mejor tener una lista de profesionales confiables antes de una crisis”, señaló.

Reportar y hablar del problema

Para quienes han sido víctimas, actuar rápido es clave.

“El primer paso es contactar al banco o al servicio de pago”, explicó Daffan.

También recomendó reportar el fraude a través de organizaciones de confianza.

“Se puede hacer de manera indirecta para proteger la identidad”, dijo.

Finalmente, destacó la importancia de la educación comunitaria.

“Hablar de estas estafas reduce significativamente el riesgo de caer en ellas”, afirmó.

Un problema que sigue creciendo

Las expertas coinciden en que estas estafas siguen patrones predecibles.

“Los estafadores siempre siguen las crisis”, dijo Daffan.

Vaca concluyó con una advertencia clara.

“Esto es un crimen. Son personas aprovechándose del dolor y la desesperación de las familias”.

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