AI immigration scam costs Bronx legal resident thousands…

In August 2026, a Bronx-based legal resident named Victor Hernandez fell victim to a sophisticated immigration scam after encountering a social media advertisement. The advertisement, which promised a path to U.S. citizenship without the required exams, leveraged the identity of a real Miami-based immigration attorney, Angel Leal, to solicit payments and personal documentation from the victim.

What happened

The scammers utilized artificial intelligence to create fake profiles using Angel Leal's image. While the scammers did not clone Leal's voice, they successfully used his likeness to establish credibility with victims. Hernandez, believing he was working with a legitimate attorney, paid an initial fee of $1,500 via Zelle. The perpetrators subsequently requested additional sensitive documents, including his Social Security card and residency card, while demanding further payments for each submission. In total, Hernandez sent $4,820 to the scammers before realizing the ad was fraudulent.

Attorney Angel Leal, who has been practicing law for 33 years, discovered his identity was being used for these scams in the fall of 2025. He reports that he has been forced to take down over 8,000 fake profile videos, noting that the scammers are likely operating from overseas. Following the discovery of the fraud, the perpetrators attempted to extort additional funds from Hernandez. The victim has since filed reports with the NYPD and federal law enforcement, while Leal has alerted the Florida Bar to the identity theft. Leal advises potential clients to avoid hiring attorneys via social media and to verify credentials through in-person meetings, warning that requests for payment via cash-sending apps are a significant red flag.