South Florida immigration attorney says AI scammers are using his identity to target immigrants
South Florida immigration attorney Angel Leal reports AI-generated scams using his identity to defraud immigrants, with fake videos and social media profiles demanding payments for false services. His office has removed over 6,500 fraudulent profiles but plans to escalate legal action against the unknown perpetrators.
Angel Leal, a South Florida immigration attorney with over 30 years of experience, says criminals are exploiting AI to steal his identity and scam vulnerable immigrants. Scammers have created hundreds of fake videos and social media profiles featuring AI-generated images of Leal, falsely promoting immigration services like US residency assistance for $2,200 in cash. The fraud began last October but escalated sharply in recent months, prompting Leal’s office to hire an anti-piracy company. They removed 6,500 fake profiles—3,500 on TikTok, 2,400 on Facebook, and 544 on Instagram—after clients reported suspicious calls. Scammers use WhatsApp to direct victims to phony contracts and payment requests via Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App. Some AI-generated videos include fake testimonials, such as claims that Leal helped a woman obtain residency or worked with immigration agents to release detainees for fees. Leal warns immigrants to verify service providers and avoid upfront payments, emphasizing his office never requests money over the phone. The attorney changed his personal number due to the scams and plans to contact local and federal authorities this week to investigate. He urges caution against social media ads promising quick immigration solutions in exchange for immediate payments.
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