A group of immigrants in the United States fell victim to a sophisticated scam in which cybercriminals set up a fake virtual court, promising them the processing of their residency in the country.
The victims, mostly women, were deceived by a false lawyer, who assured them that he could handle their residency in exchange for a few thousand dollars.
The fraud was orchestrated by Gustavo Cortés, who admitted to Univisión Noticias that the entire setup was carried out from a prison in Venezuela.
Cortés, along with other unidentified accomplices, organized virtual sessions where they simulated immigration hearings, using actors and false documents to lend credibility to the process.
One of the victims revealed that she paid over 3,000 dollars for the supposed immigration process. Most of the scammed individuals belonged to a religious congregation in New York, which facilitated trust in the supposed lawyer and his team.
This fraud has generated alarm among immigrant communities, who rely on legal procedures to regularize their situation in the United States.
It is recommended that people always verify the authenticity of the lawyers and immigration processes they resort to, and remain vigilant against potential fraud, especially in digital media.
Immigration authorities have reinforced their warnings about this type of scam, which is diversifying and increasing with the use of internet tools and artificial intelligence, worldwide.
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