Resources on Notario Fraud

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In many Spanish-speaking countries, a notario is an attorney vested with special credentials, including the ability to represent individuals before the government. Many often confuse traditional notarios with U.S. notary public, those who are permitted to certify documents but aren't permitted to give legal advice. Perpetrators of notario fraud often take advantage of this confusion. Consequently, this has been an area ripe for fraud against immigrants originating from Mexico and Central America.

Notarios advertise legal assistance — especially with immigration paperwork — but then do not provide the advertised services. Victims are often left worse off by the loss of significant sums of money and, in some instances, the filing of false paperwork which exposes notario fraud victims to the possibility of deportation.

Notario fraud often increases in the wake of proposed immigration laws or new rules promulgated by the Department of Homeland Security. State attorneys general can help combat notario fraud through consumer outreach programs to educate the public, as well as by prosecuting notarios under state consumer protection statutes or immigration services fraud statutes and by issuing consumer alerts warning of potential scams.

Resources on Notario Fraud

Examples of Immigration Fraud Cases

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