By: Jay Sorgi
The Diocese of Oakland is empowering Catholics across the area caught in the current immigration crisis to not get caught in a scam using social media to impersonate Catholic Charities, then taking money from them without serving their needs.
Ashley Byers Cosgrove, the managing attorney for immigration legal services with Catholic Charities East Bay, said that her office has seen the scam work in two fashions.
“Either it’s some sort of social media connection, meaning someone sees a video or sees a link and they follow it, and they get a message saying,‘We can help you,’ posing to be from Catholic Charities, largely through WhatsApp or Facebook, or it’s people posing as attorneys.” said Byers Cosgrove.
“I myself have been impersonated, someone using my name and claiming to be from Catholic Charities in an attempt to solicit funds from people under the guise of being able to provide legal services when in fact that’s not what’s actually happening.”
Byers Cosgrove said a program manager in Orange County called her asking if she was a person soliciting immigration legal services, tipping her off to the scam.
“It was my name. It was actually my maiden name and not my headshot, and the address associated with the WhatsApp account was actually headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. He was able to report the impersonation to the state bar. I did so as well, and I made a police report with the Oakland Police Department,” said Byers Cosgrove, who is certified to specialize in immigration law.
“We’ve also encountered individuals who say they’ve been contacted by priests alleging to work for Catholic Charities when we know that it’s not true, and they’re taken advantage of that way. So it’s either someone posing as an attorney like myself from Catholic Charities, someone just representing the organization or someone from the clergy claiming to be from Catholic Charities.”
She said that these predatory scammers are taking amounts in the hundreds, even up to $1,500. They typically use a Zelle account, saying they would get started with the process only after collecting money.
“What’s most concerning for my staff and me is the fact that these individuals who are preying on people who are seeking protection here in the United States, whether that be cases pending in immigration court or looking to apply for affirmative benefits, they’re taking money from these people with false promises,” she said.
“While some of these amounts may not seem like a lot to you, to me or whoever in the community, it is a lot to the majority of our clients. Not only are they robbing them of hope that they’re able to get some sort of representation and support for their immigration case, but they’re being robbed of financial resources that are very difficult to come by.”
Byers Cosgrove said that attorneys cannot legally make personal solicitations through social media or by phone, and they do not turn anyone away for lack of payment.
“We charge some low bono fees, however a large majority of our clients receive free legal services as a result of our grants, either through the state of California or (through) a partnership with the City of Richmond here in California where we’re able to provide free legal services,” she said.
“In the event that an individual is absolutely unable to pay and doesn’t qualify for benefits under a grant, we don’t turn them away.”
She says that if someone makes such a solicitation, claiming to be Catholic Charities, they should independently and immediately contact her office at 510-768-3100 or email info@cceb.org, then come directly into the office.
The Immigration Legal Services office also says targeted individuals should also save, but not respond to, any communication by scammers, and if they gave the scammers any financial information, they should let their bank and credit card company know about the scam.
“We’re able to affirmatively confirm this is not us. Please do not make payment. Please cease communication because that is unfortunately a scam,” said Byers Cosgrove.
“It’s our primary concern for these individuals who are reaching out to us, asking for help, whether that be asking for representation in their case or them saying ‘You made contact with me. I’m ready to go forward,’ and it’s hard for us to say, ‘Unfortunately, we’re so sorry. This is not us. It looks like you’ve been scammed. Let’s find a way in which we can help make you whole.’”
She also adds that people need to discern and be selective about the sources of information they ingest, and solely work with licensed or Department of Justice-accredited attorneys and not notary publics who are not licensed to practice law..
“Never be afraid to ask questions. It’s very important that people are basing their decisions off of correct legal advice, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions,” said Byers Cosgrove.
“Organizations like the State Bar Association are meant to protect consumers. If you feel that you have been taken advantage of, you have the right to consult with the State Bar.”