30 Jun Attorney General Warns Immigrants to Beware of ‘Notarios,’ Immigration Scams

California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks at the opening of an affordable housing development in Oakland on April 18, 2024. (Livestream Rob Bonta via Bay City News Service).

Editor’s note: This post combines two stories produced by Bay City News.

By Bay City News

Attorney General Rob Bonta warns consumers to beware immigration scams by those seeking to take advantage of fear and uncertainty over deportation — particularly “notario” fraud.

In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials, the attorney general’s office said Friday.

But in the U.S., “notary publics” are simply people authorized to witness the signing of important documents.

“A notario público is not authorized to provide people with any legal services related to immigration,” the attorney general’s office said.

Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give legal advice or represent someone in immigration court.

Immigration consultants — who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public or paralegals — cannot do so, Bonta said.

Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter.

No federal or state agency, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text. Be skeptical of social media or other ads promising new or quick immigration help.

Bonta on Friday also issued a consumer alert warning immigrant communities to beware of scams related to immigration assistance, as fear and uncertainty rise amid what he called President Donald Trump’s “inhumane” detention and deportation agenda.

Bonta’s guidance highlights the dangers of notario fraud, which are scams involving individuals posing as legal experts.

“Scammers are paying attention,” Bonta said in a statement. “Before hiring someone claiming to help with immigration matters, people should know how to identify trusted and qualified professionals.”

Bonta urged Californians to verify credentials before accepting help and provided tools such as ICE’s detainee locator (locator.ice.gov) and immigration court information system (acis.eoir.justice.gov) to track individuals held in detention.

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