Scammers send messages to immigrants in New York on social networks: why they are dangerous

Since the start of the pandemic, many immigrants have received messages on WhatsApp and other instant messengers with offers of money, in order to receive which they had to enter their personal information. Edition Documented found out the details of these scams and gave advice on how to protect against them.

In mid-November, Xochitl, a Mexican-born Brooklyn resident, received an unexpected message in a WhatsApp group chat for her son's soccer team. The chat was created by parents to share match times or news regarding their children's team. But this message had nothing to do with football.

“CHRISTMAS AID FOR 2021 IS AVAILABLE IN UP TO $ 800. Click on the link above to send your application, "- said in the message.

Xochitl did not click on the link, but not everyone who receives such messages is doing the same wisely.

Big scam

This message is part of a scam campaign that has spread across WhatsApp groups and communities that include immigrants. Since the start of the pandemic, the number fraudulent messages distributed to Hispanic groups increased. After all, many immigrants needed help, and it was in the hands of the scammers.

Reporters have found out where these scam messages are coming from. Many of them are sent from overseas, and the texts use terms associated with real ongoing assistance programs. The goal of senders is to profit from ad programs that pay small amounts of money for every click. However, the goal is not always so harmless, sometimes fraudsters aim to steal personal data.

Reporters analyzed over 25 messages in WhatsApp communities. They encouraged recipients to “share information about this assistance” with ten friends and family members so that they too can apply for financial assistance that does not really exist.

One scam campaign uses language from the Excluded Workers Fund (EWF), a New York State program that provided $ 15 in financial aid 130 000 New Yorkers who were not eligible for payments from the federal government. Most of these recipients were immigrants without legal status in the United States.

The story of Maria Orellana

Maria Orellana, 49, who has lived in New York since 2010, also received a similar message.

“The government is giving a new bonus to everyone who has been vaccinated. If you received the vaccine, register to receive a new help card for free, ”the message said.

Orellana received this misspelled message in Spanish from a friend in early October. When she saw this, she thought she was eligible for the program since she had been vaccinated earlier in the summer. She needed help, so she clicked on the link, but then began to doubt. Fortunately, the woman did not enter any of her details.

Complaints against fraudsters have grown over the past four years

Immigrants are not the only targets of scammers. According to According tocompiled by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), complaints of fraud and identity theft began to rise even before the pandemic began. Over the past four years, it has increased by more than 72%.

From January to August 2021, 1 complaints were filed. This is 520% more than in the same period in 295.

On the subject: 'You won $ 880 thousand': hundreds of New Yorkers fell victim to a fraudulent scheme

How to protect yourself from fraudulent messages

WhatsApp provides various tools to protect users of its platform from fraudulent messages and misinformation. One way - the company posted on its website the contacts of all IFCN Verification Organizations on WhatsApp... The user can forward part of the fake or suspicious message to these organizations. They will then reply with a “fake” message, explaining what is really happening, who checked it and when. If the message is real, the user will be informed about it too.

Immigration lawyer Luis Gomez Alfaro has warned people about different types of fraud since the beginning of the pandemic. According to him, he has seen similar scenarios before.

Gomez Alfaro encourages people to report scams or suspicious messages to platforms that scammers use. The social networks used have more fraud-fighting resources than local agencies.

How to avoid becoming a victim of fraudsters

It is difficult to sue the individuals or organizations behind fraudulent schemes, but there are still ways to avoid falling into these schemes. Gomez Alfaro recommends the following:

1. If you receive a message from a bank, utility provider, telephone network, or any company, do not click on the images they send or open any links. Instead, call or visit the official website of this company directly to check if the message sent is real or not. (Most scammers "disguise" themselves as recognizable companies in order to deceive people).
2. Government programs offering financial assistance, whether federal or local, are not a secret... Always check with credible sources and share factual news.
3. Be carefull: "If something is too good to be true, it is most likely not true."