Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued a warning about an ongoing scam targeting Hispanic immigrants in Texas. The scam has been perpetuated, according to Abbott, by con artists posing as licensed attorneys or other legal experts.

The warning has been accompanied by a public outreach effort to educate the public about ways they can protect themselves. Also, Abbott announced a judgment against an Austin area woman found to have been perpetrating this type of fraud.

"Notarios" typically obtain a notary public license and then market themselves to the Spanish-speaking community as a "notario publico." Notario publicos in Mexico are licensed attorneys. In the US, a notary public license is relatively easy to obtain and only authorizes someone to witness the signing of legal documents. In Texas, it is illegal for notaries to provide any type of immigration services unless they hold a separate license to practice law.

Abbott noted that many "notarios" charge exorbitant fees, file unnecessary documents, disappear with money and perform poor services that jeopardize clients' cases.

"The abuses perpetrated by fraudulent 'notarios' and their likes have caused much suffering for Texas families," said Attorney General Abbott. "These schemes also create chaos in an already overburdened immigration system," he added.

The Travis County judgment was against Barbara Seigert, a notary public, who had offered to fill out and process immigration forms on behalf of consumers. The judgment stops Ms. Seigert from selling her services to immigrants or using the Spanish terms "notario" or "notario público" in her advertising. She also faces more than $4,000 in fines, attorneys fees, and restitution. Repeat violators of the notary statute can face jail time.