The U.S. Embassy in Cuba has released a statement cautioning against a rising number of scams on social media platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook that involve fraudulent immigration services.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) emphasized that its officers do not reach out to immigration applicants through these channels, so any offers or contacts received via these means should be deemed fraudulent.
USCIS advised individuals who receive such messages to immediately report the users involved on the respective platform and to file a fraud report. The U.S. government’s website has created a special section for these types of scams under the title "Report Immigration Scams." They remind affected individuals that reporting these illegal activities will not impact their immigration application or petition.
In many U.S. states, it is possible to file fraud complaints anonymously, thus protecting the victims. Reporting these crimes is vital to help stop the unauthorized practice of immigration law.
Risks and Precautions
These fraudulent immigration schemes endanger many people and families who are deceived and exploited by scammers while in pursuit of the American dream.
The U.S. government underscores that while it makes significant efforts to verify information available on social media, it cannot guarantee the accuracy of all provided contact numbers and web addresses. Therefore, users are recommended to exercise extra caution when utilizing these resources.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba urges applicants to remain vigilant and not trust offers of immigration assistance that do not come from official sources, highlighting the importance of staying informed through reliable channels to avoid falling prey to scammers.