The fact that artificial intelligence can be used for good and bad is a fight many are facing — and it’s become a major headache for an immigration lawyer and migrants in South Florida.
Prominent attorney Ángel Leal says criminals are creating fake videos using his image, voice and name to convince immigrants to pay for supposed legal services.
“This vulnerable population is being hurt in this fashion in my name,” he said. “And that’s what’s most distressing to me and really what’s got me at my wits’ end.”
His identity has been impersonated across multiple social media profiles. In these manipulated videos, a fake version of the lawyer urges people to contact him via WhatsApp to get help with immigration paperwork.
“They hook you with the fake video. You watch it, ask for more information, they send you to a WhatsApp number, and through that number they talk to the person and ask for money via Zelle, Venmo, or one of those platforms,” Leal said.
The fraudulent content is designed to lure people in vulnerable situations. Some videos play on urgency, for example, suggesting you must act quickly if a family member has been detained. Others include fake testimonials in which supposed clients claim they obtained immigration benefits for low amounts.
On top of that, the scammers make promises that can’t be kept.
“If you’ve been deported, $1,500 so you can come back. If you’ve been in the country a certain amount of time, I’ll get you a work permit,” the attorney said, also warning that the videos even show people who appear to be ICE agents or police officers.
Leal described those responsible as criminals taking advantage of a vulnerable community.
“Knowing perfectly well they’re people who will be afraid to go to the authorities,” he said.
The impact of these scams goes beyond financial losses. According to the attorney, some victims end up with deportation orders without having filed any real paperwork, believing their case was in progress.
To confront the problem, Leal hired a company that specializes in fighting digital piracy. According to its data, since March, 6,454 fake profiles linked to these scams have been taken down.
The attorney also said he is cooperating with federal investigations and has reported the cases to local authorities.
As a preventive measure, he recommends always verifying information directly with the attorney’s office before handing over money or sharing personal data.
Fraud experts also advise against paying via Zelle, Venmo or Cash App for legal services. Instead, they suggest using credit cards, which offer greater protection by allowing you to dispute charges in the event of fraud.
This story was translated from Spanish with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An NBC6 editor reviewed the translation.