Some Businesses Target Immigrants for Scams

This article discusses how fraudulent businesses pop up, and essentially extort money from uninformed immigrants (legal or otherwise) for services that are never performed.  In one scam, an employment agency collects an up front fee of $100, and tells the immigrant that he has a job.  The immigrant then goes to the address, and finds no job.  In another scam, these businesses promise work permits, and charge up to $7,000 without verifying if the immigrant is entitled to the permit.

Part of the problem is New York law, which permits employment agencies to request up front fees for finding people a job.  The fees are supposed to be refundable if the job doesn't pan out.

Immigrants should be wary of seeking advice on things like work permits or visas without consulting an actual lawyer.  Likewise, if a promise appears too good to be true, it probably is.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/probe-reveals-rampant-ripoffs-hitting-immigrants-article-1.1180547

By:  William J. Kovatch, Jr.
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