photo credit: Shutterstock

The Santa Rosa Police Department and Catholic Charities of Northwest California are warning the public about an immigration legal service scam.

Police Chief John Cregan and Catholic Charities CEO Jennielynn Holmes allege scammers are impersonating the Catholic organization through email, text, or social media platforms and offering immigration legal aid.

The defrauders request “sensitive identifying information” and “large fees” in exchange for promised results, expedited cases, or special legal benefits, Cregan said.

“Unfortunately, I’ve seen in my 27 years as a police officer that criminals are always going to find opportunities to prey on the vulnerable," Cregan said. "And so this is a moment in history where you see a lot of vulnerable immigrants and those who are seeking immigration status, and it’s being abused by people who see an opportunity to exploit them.”

Catholic Charities does provide legal services, but Holmes says the organization does not initiate communication through social media messages and will not guarantee specific immigration outcomes.

“These individuals are in probably the most vulnerable place we’ve ever been in our country’s history, and to prey on them at this moment, when there’s so many other things working in opposition to their pursuit of this legal pathway, is just really disturbing," Holmes said. "And then to use a nonprofit standing in the community to make it even more of a scam is additionally alarming.”

Both SRPD and Catholic Charities encourage community members to watch for red flags, including requests for sensitive information, unsolicited contact offering services, and demands for upfront payments, especially through third‑party transfer platforms.

Cregan and Holmes say the scam is gaining steam around the country and is now increasingly impacting the Santa Rosa community.