Feds, local authorities discuss who can help fight immigration scams

Thomas Syta from the Federal Trade Commission briefing reporters on immigration scams. PHOTO BY ALFRED DICIOCO

LOS ANGELES — In light of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows young undocumented immigrants to stay and work in the United States, authorities are expecting scammers to take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge of the filing process.

Representatives from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), County of LA Department of Consumer Affairs on February 10 convened at the Japanese American Cultural Center Garden in Little Tokyo to discuss how members of immigrant communities can identify and avoid scammers who wish to take advantage of the new program.

Scam victim Alba Montoya shares her story. PHOTO BY ALFRED DICIOCO

“Studies have shown that when people are being approached with a scam and they talk to one other person, the chances are much less that they would become a victim of the scam,” said Sandy Close, executive director of New America Media, which hosted the discussion.

After President Barack Obama used his Executive Power to create a way for children who grew up in the United States without proper documentation to live here legally, several community leaders warned ethnic communities to be wary of scammers who come up with new tactics to bait people.

“When a new government program comes into place, a new opportunity, scammers are on top of that. They will go out there and figure out, ‘How do we take this, the DREAM Act or executive order, and twist this in such a way that they’re trying to take money but they’re actually not providing any help,’” said Thomas Syta, assistant regional director for the FTC.

In the case of Alba Montoya, she paid $2,500 to a company called “Liberty Immigration Group,” which promised to arrange immigration papers for her husband. But a few weeks after she gave them the money, she discovered that their offices were closed, along with hopes of getting her husband a green card. In spite of what happened, Montoya did not report the incident to anyone because she did not know what to do or whom to call.

While authorities like the FTC and LA Department of Consumer Affairs have the power to eventually pursue legal action against these companies, they need more information in order to put a case together.

Lt. Al Labrada of the Los Angeles Police Department says victims should not be afraid to report scams and other crimes; “We don’t care what your status is.” PHOTO BY ALFRED DICIOCO

Because of how quickly scams are changing and evolving, they need the help of residents to keep them informed of new tactics that scammers use in their particular communities.

Also, the LAPD reiterated if you are undocumented and you are a victim of a scam, law enforcement will come to your aid without regard for your legal status.

Lt. Al Labrada, community outreach liaison for the LAPD, was specifically appointed by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck to hear the concerns of the immigrant communities. He emphasized that people should contact the department without fear of getting deported.

“We have a standing order with LAPD that a person of immigrant status, if they are a victim, a witness, they have a contact in the police department, it doesn’t matter to us. We don’t ask a person’s immigrant status,” Labrada said.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti in July 2014 announced that the LAPD no longer complies with federal requests from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants without any jail sentencing.

“The only thing we had interaction with in the past was our ICE detentions and we no longer honor ICE holds. If somebody from ICE calls and wants us to detain somebody for their arrival, we no longer honor those,” Labrada added. “We don’t report any victims, witnesses of crimes to ICE at all.”

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To report a scam to the FTC, visit ftc.gov/complaint.

You can also file a consumer complaint with the LA Department of Consumer Affairs on their website:

iddweb.isd.lacounty.gov/dca_ecomplaint/

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