Better Business Bureau warns of immigration scam
The Better Business Bureau in Yuma is warning of a new scam that is targeting Mexican citizens who are looking to renew their work visas or seeking a path towards citizenship.
In Yuma thousands of people depend on work visas to continue working in agriculture fields, a job that feeds the local economy. However the scammers prey on these individuals according to Janet Torricellas, the regional director for the Better Business Bureau in Yuma.
“It’s scammers and imposters posing as legitimate government lawyers, attorney offices that claim that they will process the paperwork but they ask for a fee upfront,” Torricellas said.
Any upfront charge for services is a red flag, Torricellas explained. She says once the fee is paid, the paperwork and documentation is lost, leaving the victim back at square one.
“The scammers will host seminars and send out invitations for people looking for citizenship,” she said. These seminars sometimes take place in Mexico.
” They are not going to give you detailed information as far as where they are from, how long is the process,” Torricellas said. “What they do is just ask for the money up front versus those that are legit and are going to sit with you and give you a rundown on how the services work, how much the charge is, and what you are getting in return.”
The Better Business Bureau says this is one of many scams to look out for. The bureau has an online platform that provides scam alerts in your areas and allows for the community to engage. If you believe you are a victim of the scam you are asked to report the scam to the BBB.
