In recent months, community organizations have warned about a troubling increase in scams targeting immigrants, particularly within the Hispanic community. Unscrupulous individuals are posing as attorneys or representatives of legitimate organizations to request money and offer fraudulent immigration services.

One of the institutions that has identified this pattern is Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, an organization with decades of experience providing low-cost immigration legal services. To learn more about this problem and how to protect oneself, we spoke with Kristin Taranath, Director of the Immigration Legal Services Office at Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, who shared several tips to help people avoid becoming victims of scammers.

Kristin has been with the organization for 23 years, and during this time she has worked closely with the immigrant community, offering accessible and trustworthy legal services to help families navigate the immigration system. They handle family-based cases, citizenship applications, work permits, and other immigration processes. They have observed that people are particularly vulnerable to fraud, especially when there is an urgent need to resolve their immigration situation.

“In recent months, we have seen a much more frequent increase in these cases, driven by uncertainty, technology, and the desperation of many families. Scammers take advantage of these circumstances to deceive people, take their money, and submit fraudulent applications or false documentation that can cause serious consequences for their cases,” she warns.

For several months now, reports have emerged of individuals posing as Catholic Charities employees in Philadelphia and other cities—a serious situation that concerns attorneys and professional organizations. “We have seen a new form of scam in which someone pretends to be an attorney from Catholic Charities, either at the national or local level, and demands money for services that do not actually exist. These individuals send fake photos and profiles through WhatsApp and other platforms, using logos and immigration-related images to appear legitimate,” she explains.

This creates confusion and puts families at risk, not only financially but also legally, because many times the applications submitted are false or incorrect.

Taranath explains that scammers usually make initial contact through social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram. “It is important for the community to understand that our agency never contacts people through social media to offer legal services. That should be one of the first warning signs.”

After the initial contact, scammers request payments through platforms such as Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or bank deposits. They usually ask for more than one thousand dollars upfront—something she specifies her agency never does.

Another red flag is when they claim to be located in one state, use a phone number from another state, and provide an address in Philadelphia. These inconsistencies are common in scams.

She also warns that scammers often target the most vulnerable individuals, especially within the Hispanic community—undocumented people or those in the middle of an immigration process who are seeking a quick solution.

Factors such as language barriers, lack of knowledge of the legal system, and fear of authorities can cause people to trust incorrect information. For this reason, she believes it is crucial to educate the community and share clear information on how to identify a scam.

Kristin reports that they have seen several types of scams directed specifically at the Catholic Charities of Philadelphia office. “In some cases, scammers have used names, photos, and videos of members of our team to appear legitimate. We have even seen situations where scammers tell the client that our office is fake, with the goal of discrediting the organization and maintaining control over the victim.”

The community usually approaches them to explain what has happened, but unfortunately this often occurs after money has already been sent.

“In many cases, we cannot recover the money that was lost, but we continue to support individuals with accurate information and legal guidance about their immigration options. Our goal is to help them continue their process in a safe and legitimate way.”

The office has posted warning notices on its website to alert the community. They are also in contact with the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia to share information and prevent more people from becoming victims of these scams.

“In addition, our Hispanic Catholic Office team is working with parishes and community organizations to spread prevention messages and raise awareness about this issue,” she states.

Catholic Charities of Philadelphia is a nonprofit organization. Its consultation fee is a maximum of $80, and its legal services generally do not reach the $4,000 or $6,000 amounts that scammers have been known to charge.

“Our services are reliable and backed by attorneys and accredited representatives, which ensures that people receive proper legal advice,” she emphasizes.

The specialist insists that one important sign of potential fraud is any contact through social media related to an immigration case. “If someone writes to you on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram offering legal services, it is very likely a scam.”

She also reminds the community that notaries are not attorneys and are not authorized to provide legal advice on immigration matters. Trusting unqualified individuals can put a person’s case—and their future in this country—at risk.

“In the worst cases, this type of ‘help’ can place you and your family in an even more vulnerable situation that could potentially result in deportation,” she warns.

Kristin Taranath concludes her message by sharing the agency’s official contact information:

“What we want as an agency is to inform and protect the community. We know people are looking for solutions for their families and their future, but it is important to do so safely and with trustworthy professionals. Do not trust quick promises or people who request money without providing clear information. Always seek recognized organizations and verify the legitimacy of anyone offering legal services.”

People can contact the agency in two secure ways. First, they can complete the intake form on the official website: www.cssimmigration.org.
Second, they can call the intake line, which is open Monday through Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at 215-854-7018.

For the initial consultation, in-person, face-to-face appointments are gladly offered. The goal is to provide reliable legal services and help families protect their future.