Criminals are cloning a familiar face on South Florida Spanish-language TV, and it is costing vulnerable immigrants real money. Doral-based immigration lawyer Angel Leal says scammers are using artificial intelligence to create convincing videos of him that promise miracle-fast legal results, then funnel viewers into private chats where impostors demand cash for services that do not exist. He says the fraud has grown so aggressive that his office shut down some contact channels and started warning clients directly while authorities investigate.
How the scam works
According to NBC 6 South Florida, the scheme usually starts with a manipulated video that looks and sounds like Leal and urges viewers to contact a WhatsApp number. From there, scammers pressure people to send money through Zelle, Venmo or other payment apps. The clips often feature fake testimonials and fabricated documents that create a false sense of urgency, and some victims have even missed real court dates after being told their cases were already being handled.
Leal hired a company to track the impostor accounts. Based on the firm’s data reported by NBC 6 South Florida, 6,454 fake profiles tied to the scam have been taken down since March. He says the operators grab real footage from public posts, then pair it with AI voice-cloning tools to make the pitch sound like it is coming straight from him.
Attorneys fight back
Leal says he shut down his firm’s WhatsApp lines, brought in a monitoring company to scan for impersonations, and filed reports with local and federal authorities, according to Telemundo. Other South Florida immigration lawyers report similar schemes, with scammers copying law firm logos, inventing bar numbers and even forging court notices to make the con look legitimate.
Those defensive moves cost money and staff time, and attorneys say the fallout lands hardest on people who are already anxious about their status. Many victims are reluctant to report fraud at all because they fear drawing attention from immigration authorities.
Why it matters
The scam is feeding on a system already under intense pressure. The immigration court backlog reached about 3.3 million active cases by the end of February, creating enormous demand for legal help, according to TRAC at Syracuse University. Advocates say that backlog, combined with fear of deportation, makes people more vulnerable to anyone promising quick fixes and guaranteed approvals.
Regulators and bar associations have been warning that AI tools make impersonation schemes cheaper, faster and more believable, which means more people are likely to be fooled before anyone spots the fraud.
Where to get help
If someone messages you claiming to be an attorney, experts say you should independently verify the lawyer’s contact information through official directories and the firm’s own website, and avoid sending money through peer-to-peer apps. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services maintains an “Avoid Scams” page with tips on spotting fraud and instructions on how to report it, and consumer advocates urge victims to save screenshots, messages and payment records for investigators.
Leal told CBS News Miami that he is still gathering evidence and pushing victims to come forward so investigators have a clearer trail to follow.
Impersonating an attorney and filing fake immigration paperwork can trigger federal charges that include identity theft and wire fraud. Authorities encourage victims to report scams to the FTC, local police and immigration agencies. Complaints help build cases and can lead to platforms removing fraudulent accounts. Experts also suggest paying for legitimate legal services with credit cards or checks when possible, since those methods come with dispute rights.
Leal says the fight is far from over and is urging community members to treat any unexpected contact with extreme caution, double-check identities and never send money or personal information until they are sure they are dealing with the real thing.
-2.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)