Family scammed by fake AI immigration attorney - FOX 11…
A family lost $10000 to a scammer using an AI-generated avatar to pose as an immigration attorney on Facebook while targeting vulnerable individuals
- Incident date
- Aug 2026
- Target
- unidentified family
In August 2026, a family seeking legal help for a relative held at the Adelanto immigration detention center lost $10,000 to an individual posing as an immigration attorney. The family discovered that the woman they had been communicating with through video calls and document exchanges was an AI-generated avatar.
What happened
The family discovered the supposed attorney on Facebook, where the account displayed glowing reviews. The scammer communicated with the family via video calls and provided legal documents, including a notice claiming the detainee had been granted release under a $4,355 bond. Marena Lin, a former congressional candidate and software engineer who assisted the family, became suspicious after reviewing video of the avatar and identifying inconsistencies in the provided paperwork. Notably, one document featured a truncated header reading "United States of Americ..." and the family eventually learned that none of the documents had been filed with the court.
Investigations revealed that the perpetrator had misappropriated the license information of a real attorney from another state. The scammer's phone number listed on the Facebook profile was disconnected, leaving the family to determine what happened to their funds. Immigration attorney James DeSimone noted that such scams are a growing concern due to the vulnerability of families with loved ones in detention. Experts advise that individuals should independently verify an attorney's credentials using resources such as the State Bar of California's online search tool before hiring legal representation or transferring money.