Immigrations Scam Backfires On Scammer

Help Me Howard confronts alleged Greencard Scammer

A young illegal immigrant says he thought he was doing the right thing by getting his greencard, trouble is he went about doing it the wrong way.

"David" is from Trinidad. He says a friend recommended a woman to him, who he was told could get him his greencard. He was told that she worked for Verizon, which had an immigration program.

He told Howard about his first meeting with "Sharmala" back in January.

"I had a meeting with her. I went over there. She told me everything. It was going to cost me $2000 that day. It was going to be $6000 total. She needed $2000 to start the paperwork.
I had to bring my passport, my i-94. She photocopied everything. I gave her my passport and she gave it back to me a couple of weeks ago with a couple of stamps on it."

The stamps were authorization codes, but the problem is the stamps were dated 2001. This should have been a major red flag for David.

He told Howard that this woman came highly recommended. That she had been doing this for 14 years and that her husband worked with her.

"She said that HE was the one that did all the paperwork. He works during the day and then all the paperwork that she gives him, he does it in the nighttime."

Unfortunately, by the time David became suspicious, he was out $2000 and not getting any return calls from Sharmala.

Frustrated, David called Help Me Howard.

Even though it was highly unlikely they would get David's money back, Howard decided it was important to make contact with this woman to find out if she was legitimate or a fraud.

Last week David and his brother were able to reach Sharmala on the phone with promises to meet her with the rest of the money.

Howard joined them in Queens and came face-to-face with Sharmala. She admitted to running an immigration program, but denied having any connected to Verizon. When David appeared, she took off in her car, leaving both standing in the street.

A little while later she called David's cellphone, threatening him, but Howard also heard the threats and told Sharmala to contact him in order to tell her side of the story. So far she has not called.

Now there are dozens of people out there promising all kinds of shortcuts to a greencard. But lets be honest and cut to the chase...THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO A GREENCARD!!!!! Everyone has to go thru the proper paperwork and channels.

If someone comes to you, telling you of a shorefire way to get your greencard, without dealing with the government, RUN! It is a scam and you will soon be parted from your money.

To find out what you need to do to apply for a U.S. Greencard, go to the website for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at www.USCIS.gov

You can also contact the USCIS Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

If you are outside the United States and have filed an application or petition with a USCIS Service Center, you can call 785-330-1048 to check the status of your case. This number provides automated information only.

If you are outside the United States and need information concerning United States immigration, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.