The National Migration Service (Sermig) has issued an urgent alert following the discovery of a surge in fraudulent websites and social media accounts using the agency's official branding to scam the foreign community.
Scammers are using fake identities to promise expedited immigration processing in exchange for money. The agency warned that many of these services are, in fact, free of charge.
The situation has recently escalated due to the malicious impersonation of Carolina Rojas Flores, the agency's metropolitan head. Fraudsters are targeting users by promising favorable outcomes in exchange for transfers to private bank accounts.
Identity theft risk
The agency's national director, Frank Sauerbaum, stated that the only valid information can be found on official government platforms. He emphasized that any guidance provided by the agency is entirely free of charge.
Sermig also warned against the dangers of sharing sensitive personal information with third parties. Handing over identification documents or passwords to fake accounts facilitates identity theft and financial fraud.
Authorities reiterated that public officials only provide services through authorized offices and official platforms. They do not conduct business or provide assistance via personal social media accounts.
The demand for information has surged amid public debate regarding potential changes to immigration policies. This climate has led to the emergence of informal operators posing as intermediaries to help navigate bureaucratic processes.
The official recommendation is to always verify the authenticity of any website visited. The agency urged the community to report suspicious accounts and to use only official channels to avoid legal and financial harm.