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Prominent attorney Ángel Leal says criminals are creating fake videos using his image, voice and name to convince immigrants to pay for supposed legal services.
Artificial intelligence is being exploited by criminals to create fake videos impersonating prominent immigration attorney Ángel Leal in South Florida. These fraudulent videos are used to lure vulnerable immigrants, causing significant distress to both the lawyer and the affected community.
The criminals use manipulated videos featuring a fake version of attorney Leal to instruct people to contact them via WhatsApp. Through this channel, they solicit payments for fabricated legal services using platforms like Zelle, Venmo, or other digital payment methods.
The fraudulent content often employs tactics of urgency, such as claims of expedited services for detained family members. It also includes fake testimonials from supposed clients and even features AI-generated individuals appearing to be ICE agents or police officers, all to create a false sense of legitimacy and compel victims to pay for services that cannot be delivered.
Beyond financial loss, the victims of these scams face severe consequences, including receiving deportation orders due to believing their cases were being handled by the fraudsters when no actual legal paperwork was filed. Criminals exploit the fears and lack of knowledge of this vulnerable population, knowing they may be hesitant to approach authorities.
To address this widespread deception, attorney Leal has engaged a company specializing in fighting digital piracy, which has successfully taken down 6,454 fake profiles linked to these scams since March. Leal is also actively collaborating with federal investigations and local authorities to report these criminal activities.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, attorney Leal advises individuals to always verify information directly with a lawyer's office before transferring money or sharing personal details. Fraud experts further recommend avoiding digital payment methods like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App for legal services, suggesting credit cards instead due to their better fraud protection features.