Protect Yourself from Immigration Fraud and Scams
Catholic Charities Dallas Immigration Legal Services is committed to protecting clients and community members from fraud, scams, and impersonation schemes. Criminals may falsely claim to represent Catholic Charities of Dallas, USCIS, ICE, EOIR (Immigration Court), the Department of State, or other government agencies in an attempt to obtain money or personal information.
What Catholic Charities Dallas Will Never Do
Catholic Charities of Dallas will never:
- Contact you unexpectedly to demand immediate payment.
- Threaten deportation, detention, arrest, or loss of immigration benefits if payment is not made immediately.
- Request payment through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, WhatsApp, gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or similar methods.
- Ask for your passwords, online account credentials, or banking passwords.
- Guarantee approval of any immigration application, petition, visa, work permit, green card, citizenship application, asylum claim, or other immigration benefit.
- Claim that a payment can influence USCIS, ICE, EOIR, the Department of State, or any government official.
- Ask you to provide false information on an immigration application.
How to Protect Yourself
- Verify any request for information or payment by contacting Catholic Charities of Dallas directly using the contact information listed on our official website.
- Be cautious of unexpected calls, text messages, emails, social media messages, or letters requesting personal information or payment.
- Remember that caller ID numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles can be spoofed or impersonated.
- Never send money or share personal information until you have independently verified the identity of the person contacting you.
- Keep copies of your immigration documents and receipts in a secure location.
Common Immigration Scams
Be cautious of anyone who:
- Claims they can guarantee approval of your case.
- Promises faster processing in exchange for additional payment.
- Claims to have a special relationship with immigration officials.
- Pressures you to make an immediate payment.
- Represents themselves as a lawyer without proper credentials.
- Offers immigration legal advice without authorization.
If You Receive a Suspicious Communication
If someone contacts you claiming to represent Catholic Charities of Dallas:
- Do not send money.
- Do not provide personal or financial information.
- End the communication immediately.
- Save any emails, text messages, voicemails, or screenshots if possible.
- Contact Catholic Charities of Dallas directly to verify the communication.
Report Suspected Fraud
Catholic Charities of Dallas – Immigration Legal Services
📞 866-233-7500
Catholic Charities calls the community to action to join us in addressing the root causes of poverty, hunger, and homelessness by serving, educating, and empowering all those in need.
