Legal, Immigration & Documents
Fake lawyers, immigration fees, and threats about your status.
'Pay to Avoid a Warrant/Subpoena' Scam
A caller says there's a warrant or subpoena against you (missed jury duty, ignored a subpoena, a lawsuit) and demands immediate payment to avoid arrest.
Read the guide →Apostille / Document-Authentication Fee Scam
Copycat 'apostille' or document-authentication services overcharge for state/federal processes you could do officially, or take your money and documents and do nothing.
Read the guide →Deportation-Threat Extortion (Immigrant-Targeted)
A caller posing as ICE or immigration police threatens immediate arrest or deportation unless you pay right now, exploiting fear and language barriers.
Read the guide →Fake Attorney / 'Settlement You're Owed' Scam
A 'law firm' says you're owed a legal settlement or inheritance and must pay fees or taxes to release it — an advance-fee scam using legal authority.
Read the guide →Fake Process-Server 'You've Been Served' Scam
A caller claiming to be a process server says legal papers or a lawsuit are being served against you and uses it to extract payment or personal information.
Read the guide →Green-Card Lottery 'You Won — Pay a Fee' Scam
A message claims you won the Diversity Visa (green-card) lottery and must pay a fee to claim it — but the real program is free to enter and doesn't email winners for payment.
Read the guide →Passport / Visa Copycat-Application Fee Site
Copycat websites charge inflated 'service fees' to process passport renewals or visa applications you could do yourself officially — and harvest your identity documents. (Overlaps ESTA copycats.)
Read the guide →Probate / 'Unclaimed Inheritance' Fee Scam
A 'lawyer' or 'bank' says a distant relative left you a fortune (or that unclaimed funds are yours) and you must pay fees or taxes to release it.
Read the guide →
Not sure which one you’ve got?
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