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Fake Lawyers Steal 'Tens of Thousands' From Facebook, WhatsApp Users: DA
Bragg says the scams have led to tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent transfers and wants Meta to let law enforcement report suspect accounts.
- On Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wrote to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding removal of imposter accounts on Facebook and WhatsApp that have "led to tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent transfers."
- Scammers frequently pose as legitimate organizations like Catholic Charities to exploit vulnerable immigrant populations seeking legal aid, prompting Bragg to demand Meta take proactive steps after the company declined earlier requests to remove false profiles.
- In an interview with ABC News, Bragg warned users that virtual-only meetings and missing business addresses are red flags; Catholic Charities chapters in Trenton, Houston, and Baltimore have posted warnings about the scams.
- While Meta prohibits identity misrepresentation, the company acknowledged that bad actors constantly evolve their tactics and stated it is investing in new technology and partnerships to improve detection systems.
- Recent legal setbacks intensify pressure on Meta: New Mexico won a $375 million civil judgment for failing to police child predators, and a Los Angeles jury found the company liable for a 20-year-old woman's social media addiction.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Fake lawyers steal 'tens of thousands' from Facebook, WhatsApp users: DA
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) -- Social media users are warned to beware of imposter lawyers offering fake immigration legal services and stealing money from unsuspecting victims, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The fake attorneys on Facebook and WhatsApp pose as lawyers working for pro bono legal organizations and offer immigration services, Bragg said [...]
Facebook, WhatsApp should remove accounts that defraud users, Manhattan DA says
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, speaks during the National Action Network (NAN) 35th Anniversary Convention in New York, April 8, 2026. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (NEW YORK) — Meta is failing to remove imposter accounts from its Facebook and WhatsApp platforms that “have led to tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent transfers” in a growing scam across the country, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Brag…
Stop The Immigration Scam on WhatsApp, Urges Da Bragg to Zuckerberg
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has called on Mark Zuckerberg to take urgent action against a surge in immigration-related scams operating across Meta platforms, particularly WhatsApp and Facebook. In a formal letter sent Thursday, Bragg warned that “imposter accounts” posing as legitimate immigration attorneys and legal service providers are exploiting vulnerable individuals, many of whom are immigrants seeking assistance with their leg…
Manhattan prosecutor Alvin L. Bragg Jr. raised alarms about a worrying rise in scams targeting immigrants in New York and other parts of the United States, perpetrated via Meta platforms, such as Facebook and WhatsApp. According to a statement issued by the prosecutor’s office, criminals are creating accounts [...] Manhattan’s prosecution entry demands Meta to stop scams against immigrants on Facebook and WhatsApp was first published on Focus In…
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