New York, NY—Today, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called on Meta to crack down on scammers and imposter accounts falsely posing as pro bono legal organizations and attorneys. These scammers offer fraudulent immigration legal services via Meta’s platforms Facebook and WhatsApp, sometimes posing as legitimate legal service organizations.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Immigrant New Yorkers should be able to seek legal help with confidence, but scammers increasingly prey on the vulnerable via social media. Meta is failing to adequately prevent and remove fraudulent accounts, such as those impersonating real organizations offering pro-bono legal services or others claiming to be real lawyers offering immigration services. Meta is allowing deception and abuse to continue on its platforms, and in this way, it aids scammers who cheat vulnerable and often desperate immigrant New Yorkers. We thank District Attorney Bragg for bringing attention to this issue and calling for accountability. Meta and other social media platforms must do more to take responsibility and protect users from exploitation, shut down impersonation scammers, and strengthen safeguards on social media platforms. At the same time, New York must continue to invest in legal services so immigrant New Yorkers can connect with legitimate, accredited attorneys, and access the trusted support they deserve to preserve the safety and stability of their families and ensure equal access to due process."