05/15/2026
URGENT: Immigration Fraud Alert-Attorneys Being Impersonated Using Bar Numbers
The Kentucky Bar Association is issuing an urgent alert regarding a sophisticated and escalating immigration-related fraud scheme that is directly affecting licensed attorneys across the country, including potentially here in Kentucky.
Scammers are harvesting attorneys' names and bar numbers from publicly available state bar websites and using that information to impersonate real, licensed practitioners. Fraudsters are posing as the American Bar Association, nonprofit legal service providers, and licensed private attorneys to solicit payments and sensitive personal information from vulnerable individuals seeking immigration legal assistance.
These schemes use fake letterhead, fabricated credentials, fraudulent retainer agreements, and falsified government documents, including materials bearing the seals of USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security. Scammers have also staged video calls in front of ABA signage and created WhatsApp Business profiles using the ABA logo to appear legitimate.
The scheme operates primarily through WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms. In many cases, impersonated attorneys only become aware of the situation when victims contact them directly to verify whether they are actually handling their case. Victims have suffered not only significant financial losses, but in some instances, adverse immigration consequences-including deportation orders - as a result of fraudulent filings or missed deadlines.
