GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Authorities in Green Bay are warning those in the Latino community of a recent immigration scam that has already cost nearly a dozen people tens of thousands of dollars.
One man dead, 14-year-old injured after vehicle hits tree in Wisconsin
According to a release from the Green Bay Police Department, multiple victims have reported following instructions asking to make significant cash payments or wire transfers as a way to obtain U.S. citizenship for themselves and/or others.
“Be suspicious and question everything,” said Lt. Jena Luberda with the Green Bay police department. “If they’re pushy if there’s a sense of urgency to it. That’s another red flag.”
Luberda said this is the first time she’s seen a scam targeting the Latino community in the Green Bay area while she’s been a law enforcement officer. She said about a dozen people have called them saying they’ve been targets of the scam.
Officers say the scammers are claiming to have relationships with people who work in immigration services and can speed up the process of legal paperwork and other documents.
If anybody promises you, they can speed up your immigration status, do not do it. It is a scam. We ask that you contact your local law enforcement immediately. We do not want anyone else to lose money. We have reason to believe that there are more victims, and we want them to feel comfortable coming forward, and that is why we are making our community aware of these reports. To help prevent being scammed, be suspicious of the intentions of others. Scammers are often pushy. They will try to catch their victims off-guard with a sense of urgency.
Lieutenant Jena Luberda, Green Bay Police Department
So far, police say nearly a dozen people have fallen victim to this scam and it has cost them tens of thousands of dollars.
Anyone else who may have become a victim of this scam or has been in contact with someone claiming to help with immigration is highly encouraged to reach out to the Green Bay Police Department with the following information:
- Name
- Physical description
- Contact information i.e. phone number, email address, mailing address
- Text messages, voicemails, emails
- Vehicle description and/or license plate information
- Photos or surveillance images or video from doorbell or security cameras
- Documents
Door County Sheriff’s Office: Deputies looking for stolen 1922 vehicle
Those looking to contact the Green Bay Police Department can do so by calling (920) 448-3200 or stay anonymous by calling the Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-STOP (7867).
Community leaders said they’ve also started noticing this scam.
Ricardo Torres is a community organizer for Voces de la Frontera a nonprofit organization that advocates for the Latino community and other groups. It’s Wisconsin’s largest member-led immigration rights organization for over 20 years.
“They can provide a better lifestyle, local people, family, friends, the people I truly relate to they see it as a way to help their family,” explained Torres when asked why the scammers have been effective. “As long as they can help their family they see it as a life changing experience.”
He said that if anybody in the Latino community gets a phone call, text message, or gets contacted through the internet from someone claiming to be able to help them with their immigration case they should contact Voces de la Frontera. They will help that person connect with legitimate lawyers who can actually help them.
“Becoming a US citizen isn’t something that just happens overnight through a phone call,” he said.
Torres said if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. He said Voces de la Frontera also hosts “Know Your Rights” training to help community members.
