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EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — In response to a high number of fraud complaints, a non-profit organization that provides legal services to low-income individuals has issued an alert to border communities residents.
Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (TRLA) says the scam is targeting people seeking legal assistance, in which impostors are impersonating the nonprofit legal services organization and demanding payment from potential clients.
According to TRLA, scammers have been contacting individuals by phone and text message, claiming they need to discuss details related to legal services before requesting money. The calls originate from fraudulent phone numbers that are not associated with the organization.
“We are receiving reports from community members who are getting calls and text messages from numbers that have never been associated with our organization,” said Joseph Resurreccion, TRLA’s Director of Information and Technology.
“When people search those numbers online, our official website appears in the results. This gives the fraudulent numbers an appearance of legitimacy,” he added.
So far, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) has received four reports involving this scam.
While that number may appear low, the organization says the situation is concerning because it provides services across 68 counties in Southwest Texas, meaning virtually its entire service area could be at risk. TRLA officials also believe there may be additional victims who either have not realized they were scammed or have not reported the incident.
Organization leaders emphasized that these are only the cases that have been reported directly to TRLA.
“The confirmed cases so far were reported in Webb County (Laredo) through text messages in English; in El Paso County through a phone call in Spanish; in Maverick County through text messages in English; and in San Patricio County, also through text messages in English,” said Karina Garza.
According to TRLA, scammers contact individuals by phone calls and text messages, claiming they need to discuss details about a legal case or request for legal assistance before asking for money or financial information. In some cases, they even use the recipient’s name to make the message appear more credible.
The phone numbers used to send texts or place calls constantly change and are not associated with TRLA. However, scammers instruct victims to call a different fraudulent number that, when searched online, may appear linked to the organization’s official website.
TRLA representatives said the scheme relies on a technique known as “SEO poisoning,” in which scammers manipulate search engine results to associate fraudulent phone numbers with legitimate organizations. As a result, when victims search for the number that contacted them, TRLA’s official website may appear among the search results, creating a false sense of legitimacy.
“We are receiving reports from community members who are getting calls and text messages from numbers that have never been associated with our organization,” said Joseph Resurreccion.
“When people search those numbers online, our official website appears in the results. That gives fraudulent numbers an appearance of legitimacy,” he added.
TRLA said some of the fraudulent message’s state:
“Hello, this is Legal Services. I have a question about why you contacted us. Please call me at [fraudulent number]. It only takes two minutes.”
Others say:
“[Name], we received your request for legal assistance. For a free consultation, call now at [fraudulent number].”
The organization has also identified messages containing fraudulent links with wording such as:
“Hello [Name], here is the link you requested.”
Once contact is established, scammers ask victims for credit card information under the pretense of enrolling them in a supposed legal assistance program that charges $19 per month. TRLA says the program has no connection to the organization.
TRLA provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in areas including housing, family law, public benefits, employment matters, disaster recovery, and certain immigration-related cases.
The organization stressed that community members should not rely solely on internet search results to verify whether a phone number belongs to TRLA. Anyone who receives a suspicious call or text message is encouraged to hang up immediately and contact the organization directly.
“The best way to verify that a call or text message actually came from TRLA is to contact us directly,” Resurreccion said.
Individuals seeking legal assistance, as well as current clients, can verify communications by calling TRLA’s intake line at (956) 996-8752 or visiting the organization’s official website.
The warning comes amid a rise in scams targeting immigrant and border communities. Consumer advocates and federal agencies have warned that criminals frequently impersonate trusted organizations, attorneys, legal aid providers, immigration officials, and government agencies in order to obtain money or personal information.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency, claiming victims must act immediately to avoid legal consequences, immigration problems, or the loss of benefits. They frequently request payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or digital payment platforms, making it difficult to recover funds once they are sent.
TRLA is urging residents never to provide personal, financial, or banking information in response to unsolicited phone calls or text messages. The nonprofit is also encouraging community members to share the warning with family members, friends, and neighbors, particularly those seeking legal assistance who may be more vulnerable to this type of fraud.
TRLA serves low-income residents across Southwest Texas, including communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The nonprofit legal aid organization provides free civil legal services in areas such as housing, family law, public benefits, employment issues, disaster recovery, and certain immigration-related matters.
TRLA officials emphasize that community members should not rely solely on internet searches to verify whether a phone number belongs to the organization. Instead, anyone who receives a suspicious call or text claiming to be from TRLA should hang up and contact the organization directly.
“The best way to verify that a call or text message actually came from TRLA is to contact us directly,” Resurreccion said. Individuals seeking legal assistance or existing clients can verify communications by calling TRLA’s intake line at 956-996-8752 or by visiting TRLA’s official website.
The warning comes as consumer advocates and federal agencies report a rise in scams targeting immigrant and border communities. Deceivers frequently impersonate trusted organizations, attorneys, legal aid providers, immigration officials, or government agencies to obtain money or sensitive personal information.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency, telling victims that immediate action is required to avoid legal consequences, immigration problems, or the loss of benefits. In many cases, they demand payment through wire transfers, gift cards, digital payment platforms, or other methods that are difficult to trace or recover.
TRLA urges residents never to provide personal, financial, or banking information in response to unsolicited phone calls or text messages. The organization also advises community members to share the warning with family, friends, and neighbors, particularly those who may be seeking legal assistance and could be vulnerable to fraud.
Anyone uncertain about the legitimacy of a call claiming to be from TRLA should end the conversation and contact the organization directly through its official phone number or website.
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