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AI Bots Pose as Immigration Lawyers in Rising Scam Wave

Fraudulent AI bots posing as immigration attorneys are proliferating on social media, defrauding vulnerable immigrant families of thousands of dollars and jeopardizing their legal cases.

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe Staff Writer

AUGUST 21, 2026 AT 8:43 AM

Nearly twelve months have passed since the American Bar Association first issued a formal warning to immigrants residing in the United States about the dangers of AI-generated profiles and chatbots soliciting payment for immigration services. Based on anecdotal evidence, the number of documented incidents has grown substantially since that initial alert.

On 26 August 2025, the ABA released an official notice reporting a sharp rise in fraudsters falsely claiming to be immigration attorneys, often misrepresenting themselves as working for respected legal services organisations including the ABA itself, or suggesting they maintain privileged connections with government officials.

One California family experienced the scam firsthand when relatives of a woman held at the Adelanto detention centre thought they had located a credible immigration lawyer through Facebook. The individual turned out to be an AI-generated avatar. The family, speaking anonymously through former congressional candidate Marena Lin to the Fox News affiliate in Los Angeles, revealed they were instructed to pay a bond of 4,355 dollars to secure their family member’s release from the ICE detention facility.

Only later did they realise the legal documents they had submitted to the AI bot were never filed with any court.

Angel Leal, a prominent immigration attorney based in South Florida, has become a victim of AI impersonation through fabricated videos showing what appears to be him discussing immigration matters and directing potential clients to contact him via WhatsApp.

Speaking to NBC-6 in Miami, Leal confirmed his awareness of the impostor operation and stated he had observed fraudulent videos featuring his likeness circulating on multiple social media platforms. More than 6,000 scams involving his name have been identified online to date.

Charity Anastasio of the American Immigration Lawyers Association told WLRN that such scams have become increasingly common within immigrant communities. Modern technology allows fraudsters to impersonate legitimate professionals using inexpensive software, creating fake websites and advertisements on Facebook or WhatsApp with minimal effort.

The ABA emphasised that the harm extends beyond financial loss. These AI-driven scams can permanently destroy an individual’s prospects for approval in processes such as visa applications or asylum claims.

Adonia Simpson, ABA deputy director for policy, warned that perpetrators cause irreparable damage to immigration cases, deplete immigrants’ already limited financial resources, and leave victims exposed to detention or removal.

While several states have enacted legislation to prosecute individuals illegally practising immigration law, enforcement remains limited. Current penalties typically amount to misdemeanour charges and modest fines, providing little deterrent against the growing online fraud.

With information from Washington Examiner

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe

She was born in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the granddaughter of an immigrant from Crete who settled in the Greek community of Johannesburg (one of the largest in Africa). She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and a master’s degree in Journalism from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She began her career at English-language media outlets in Johannesburg, covering politics and economics, with a focus on issues related to migration and the diaspora. She moved to Athens in 2015 to “return to her roots,” initially to pursue graduate studies, and has remained there permanently. She is married to an Afrikaner; they have two children and live in the southern suburbs of Athens.