US Immigration Agency Warns of Rising Scams Targeting Immigrants: How to Protect Yourself

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is warning immigrants to remain alert against scams and fraud, saying applicants for immigration benefits are at particular risk of being targeted by individuals posing as lawyers, government officials, and immigration consultants. In guidance updated on its official website, the agency outlined the most common tactics scammers use and the steps immigrants can take to protect themselves and their families.

The agency's first and most important message: you do not need a representative to file forms with USCIS. Applicants may complete and submit forms themselves and represent themselves before the agency. Those who prefer help should ensure that the person assisting them is a licensed attorney or an accredited representative working for an organization recognized by the Department of Justice. Only attorneys, accredited representatives, or certain law students and graduates working under their supervision are authorized to represent individuals on immigration matters before USCIS.

That warning strikes at the heart of one of the most damaging fraud patterns affecting immigrant communities — individuals without legal qualification charging money for immigration help they are not authorized to provide. The Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review maintains lists of attorneys who provide immigration services free or at minimal cost, along with accredited representatives and recognized organizations. The American Bar Association also publishes resources for finding legitimate legal help in each state.

According to USCIS, scammers typically try to confuse victims by making the immigration process seem more complicated than it is. They use social media, email, and phone calls to reach their targets, and frequently impersonate government officials to manipulate victims into handing over personal information.

The agency lists specific warning signs immigrants should watch for. These include emails that appear legitimate but come from unknown senders, messages containing typos and incorrect spellings, and emails that do not end in .gov but instead use addresses ending in .net, .org, .com, or .info. Other red flags are offers to expedite a case in exchange for money, promises of a quick benefit, requests to download or open attachments from unrecognized senders, and — critically — any request that claims to be from USCIS asking you to transfer money to an individual or pay fees outside of your official myUSCIS online account.

Immigrants who receive a suspicious email claiming to be from USCIS are advised to forward it to the agency's webmaster at USCIS.Webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov. The webmaster can confirm whether an email is a scam and explain how to report it, though the webmaster cannot answer immigration questions.

For those navigating the system directly, USCIS encourages immigrants to create an online account, which provides tools to check case status, view current processing times, and notify the agency of an address change. The agency's website also features Emma, a virtual assistant that answers general immigration questions in English and Spanish. Applicants experiencing delays, typographical errors on documents, or missing notices can submit an e-Request through the agency's website rather than responding to unsolicited offers of help.

USCIS also moved to reassure immigrants who witness or report fraud, stating that reporting a scam being committed by someone else will not negatively affect your application, petition, or request in most cases, provided you are not involved. Suspected immigration scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 877-FTC-HELP or by filing a complaint online through USA.gov, as well as to local and state authorities. Suspected fraud by immigration service providers can additionally be reported to the Executive Office for Immigration Review's Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program at 877-388-3840 or by email at eoir.fraud.program@usdoj.gov.

For immigrants, the guidance is a reminder that offers of guaranteed green cards, expedited work permits, or special visa channels — especially those arriving through social media messages, WhatsApp forwards, or phone calls — deserve heightened scrutiny. Official communication from USCIS comes through .gov channels and the myUSCIS account, never through requests to pay individuals directly. Anyone unsure whether a message is genuine can verify it through the agency's official website at uscis.gov before sending money or sharing personal information.