Montgomery County urges Spanish speakers to pause, verify and report scams; anonymous hotline offered

Montgomery County's Consumer Protection Office is urging Spanish-speaking residents to be cautious after warning that fraud schemes are becoming more sophisticated and often rely on urgent, high-pressure calls.

"Es importante reportar estas fraudes, estas estafas," said Marcela Rodrguez Villagr
n, the reporter reading the county's public service message, summarizing the office's guidance that people should stop paying and report suspected scams. The recording emphasizes pausing and verifying before responding to unexpected demands for money.

The message warns that scammers frequently exploit immigration fears, sometimes impersonating immigration attorneys and falsely saying a hearing date has changed to coerce payment. The recording advises verifying such claims with immigration authorities and the courts and checking an attorney's status with the state bar or lawyers' association to see whether complaints or suspensions exist.

The county's consumer protection announcement stresses that the office will not ask callers about their immigration status and that people may report incidents anonymously. "No pedimos estatus inmigratorio," the presenter says, urging victims to come forward so investigators can identify patterns and help others in the community.

Callers to the office were given a phone number in the recording: 240 7781 (area code not specified in the message). The county asked anyone who suspects they have been targeted to contact the Consumer Protection Office for confidential assistance in Spanish.

The recording closed with reporter Marcela Rodrguez Villagr
n identifying herself as the source of the announcement.