Victims Of Immigration Fraud Tell Their Stories To Philadelphia City Council
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Victims of immigration fraud in Philadelphia told heart-wrenching stories of being scammed and risking deportation after falling prey to bogus immigration assistance services.
It's called "Notario fraud" after scammers who called themselves a notario, the Latino term for lawyer, and demand thousands of dollars from new immigrants without any guarantee they can actually get them papers.
Several victims testified at the city council hearing, requesting anonymity. One said he lost at least eight thousand dollars.
"We ended up without money and without papers," he said. "Unfortunately, this happens every day."
Councilman Denny O'Brien has introduced legislation which would, for the first time, regulate immigration services in Philadelphia. That bill will be debated at a later date.