Avoid immigration scams and notario fraud
Guidance from the California Attorney General on spotting immigration services fraud. Only lawyers, accredited representatives and recognized organizations can give immigration legal advice; notarios and consultants cannot.
Your next step
Before paying anyone, check that they are a lawyer or a DOJ-accredited representative. Keep your original documents.
Questions to ask
- Is this person a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative?
- Will I get a written contract and receipts?
- Where can I report a scam?
If this one cannot help
Other starting points for the same need:
- FTC scam information: Find information about recognizing, avoiding and reporting scams.
- CFPB consumer money tools: Explore information about bank accounts, credit, debt, loans and other money questions.
- Informed Immigrant: Plain-language guides for immigrants on DACA, detention, health care and work, plus a ZIP code search for legal and community help. It is an information site, not a law office.
What this listing can tell you
Consumer guidance. It does not investigate individual cases from this page.
Do Not Lose Hope does not determine eligibility, appointments, or outcomes. A listing does not imply a partnership.
Official source & review
https://oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources
Source page checked: .
Official pages read on 2026-10-22 for service area, contact methods, cost, languages, intake and eligibility. Each field in verification names its source. Current openings and individual eligibility are not confirmed.
What the official pages say
- Service area
- Not recorded.
- How to contact
- Website; report scams to local law enforcement; rights complaints at oag.ca.gov/report. Stated on the official page, checked October 22, 2026. Source
- Cost
- Not stated. Not stated on the official page, checked October 22, 2026. Source
- Languages
- 'Immigration Services Fraud' alert in English, Spanish, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese (Simplified), Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese. Stated on the official page, checked October 22, 2026. Source
- How to start
- No intake. Stated on the official page, checked October 22, 2026. Source
- Stated limits
- Not stated. Not stated on the official page, checked October 22, 2026. Source
Current openings and whether you qualify are not confirmed. Ask the organization.
How we check sources