AI-Generated Immigration Attorney Scam Costs Bronx Resident $4,820

Scammers weaponize AI to impersonate real attorney

A legal U.S. resident from the Bronx lost $4,820 to fraudsters who used artificial intelligence to clone the identity of a legitimate immigration attorney, according to an investigation first reported by ABC7 New York.

Victor Hernandez, who has lived and worked in New York for more than a decade after moving from the Dominican Republic, responded to a social media advertisement promising to help him become a U.S. citizen without taking the official exam. The ad appeared to come from immigration attorney Angel Leal of Miami — but Leal had nothing to do with it.

The scammers used AI-generated videos featuring Leal's image to create what appeared to be authentic promotional content. Hernandez paid an initial $1,500, then continued sending money via Zelle as the fraudsters requested additional documents including his Social Security card and residency card. Each new document came with another payment demand.

Real attorney becomes unwitting face of nationwide fraud

Angel Leal, who has practiced immigration law for 33 years, discovered last fall that his identity had been cloned to create multiple fake profiles. The AI-generated content uses his image but not his voice, making the impersonation sophisticated enough to fool victims across the country.

"It's cheapening my life's work," Leal told ABC7. "A great part of that time has been advocating for immigrant rights."

Leal and his team have taken down approximately 8,000 fake profile videos, though he acknowledges that represents only a fraction of the fraudulent content circulating online. Clearing his name has become what he describes as a full-time job, and he has reported the identity theft to the Florida Bar.

Why it matters

This case illustrates how AI tools have lowered the barrier for sophisticated identity fraud at scale. Immigrants pursuing legal status are particularly vulnerable targets because they often lack familiarity with U.S. legal processes and may be reluctant to report crimes to authorities. The combination of AI-generated content, social media advertising platforms, and instant payment apps creates an ecosystem where scammers can operate with minimal friction and maximum reach.

Extortion follows initial fraud

After Hernandez's wife raised concerns about the legitimacy of the requests, the couple consulted a friend and discovered the scam. At that point, the fraudsters attempted to extort additional money from Hernandez, who had already provided extensive personal documentation.

Hernandez filed reports with the NYPD and federal law enforcement. He now faces immediate financial consequences: he is behind on rent and owes two months of electricity bills. He also worries about potential identity theft given the volume of personal information he shared with the scammers.

Red flags and prevention

Leal warns that legitimate attorneys do not request payment through cash-sending apps like Zelle. He advises people to never hire an attorney based solely on social media advertisements, to conduct thorough research, and to meet potential legal representatives in person.

The attorney also called for greater accountability from social media platforms, arguing they should face the same standards as traditional media outlets to protect users from fraud.

Details of this case were first reported by Dan Krauth and the 7 On Your Side Investigates team at ABC7 New York.