by Marvin Ramírez
One day, while I was checking Facebook, I came across an ad titled The Corner of Culture, followed by a dark yellowish box with the following text: “Registration is now OPEN for the ENGLISH COURSE at the University of Pennsylvania: it’s free, online, and they give an official certificate…”.
I immediately thought of Goya, a young professional from Nicaragua who arrived undocumented several months ago with the hope of a better future. She hasn’t had time to learn English, but she does have plenty of will. Since she arrived, she has worked at whatever she can to support her two children, whom she left with her mother in a small town, and to pay off the loan she took out on her home. Her mother is very sick, and that keeps her in a constant state of suffering, especially when she loses her job. Learning English has been difficult for her.
I sent her the ad without much thought, and within minutes, she had already contacted the supposed school and enrolled. Unsuspectingly, she provided all her personal details, including three references. What seemed to be a free course soon turned into a trap: they demanded an initial payment of $199 and weekly fees of $34. She called me in anguish, asking if it was worth paying. I advised her not to do it, to look for free options on the internet. I suggested she cancel immediately and ask them not to contact her anymore.
What followed was even more alarming. Instead of respecting her decision, they began harassing and threatening her. They sent her a message full of spelling mistakes, which made me seriously doubt that this was a legitimate institution. They warned her that, having spoken to an advisor, she was already committed to financing and had to pay or face consequences. The intimidation did not stop there.
When she sent a message cancelling the supposed contract, the response was a direct threat: she was warned that if she did not make payments, her credit history would be affected and she would face additional charges. Then, she was told that they would only cancel her registration if she paid $700. Shortly after, one of the reference contacts she had provided received a call from the company. Two people, Jennifer Alvarado and Jesus Castillo, confronted this contact separately in two separate calls. When he tried to verify whether the company was legally registered, both reacted violently, with shouts and intimidation, trying to avoid any type of investigation.
The problem did not end there. Despite the cancellation and the advice not to proceed, Gregoria did not pay what was demanded thanks to one of the references she included. However, the threat of her credit history being damaged persisted, and the pressure was incessant.
This case highlights a larger problem. Many unscrupulous companies operate under the shadow of the law, using pressure tactics and deceptive contracts to trap vulnerable immigrants. The desperation of those seeking better opportunities makes them easy prey for these frauds. Threatening them with credit reports or legal action is just one of the strategies to force them to pay for services that, in many cases, can be obtained for free through community or government programs.
Authorities cannot continue to ignore these abuses. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and consumer protection agencies must take stronger measures to investigate and sanction these fraudulent companies. In addition, consulates of countries of origin must play a more active role in educating immigrants about their rights and in reporting these frauds.
To those who have been victims of these frauds, I say: do not remain silent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a platform to report these crimes at reportfraud.ftc.gov. There are also local organizations that can provide legal advice and support.
The dream of a better life should not be turned into a nightmare by scammers. As a community, we must protect the most vulnerable and demand that our authorities act firmly. We cannot allow the exploitation of immigrants to continue to occur with impunity. Justice should not be a privilege, but a right for all.
If any of you, readers of El Reportero, have found yourself in a similar situation with this or any other fake company, please contact this media at Lreportero@aol.com.
