Scammers Target Illegal Immigrants

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) A new wave of telephone scammers is targeting Spanish speakers and seems to prey specifically on illegal immigrants. Rosie Rodriquez of Layton got so many of the calls she contacted the authorities.

In fact, Rodriguez was born in Texas and is a legal U.S. resident. She says the scammers insist on speaking Spanish and ask her to donate hundreds of dollars for a program to teach English to illegal immigrants. For an additional one-thousand dollars, the scammers promise to help a family member in Mexico cross the border into the U.S.

Thanks to Rodriquez, Division of Consumer Protection Director Francine Giani says the state is getting some leads on the scam.

"We're going to be working with her on a little sting to see if we can generate some real live suspects that we can pursue," says Giani.

Giani says anyone who receives a call from the scammers should report it to the Division of Consumer Protection. She adds that illegal immigrants who call in to report a scam need not worry about being turned into the authorities.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW