Texas Attorney General Greg A b b ott has issued a warning a b out an ongoing scam targeting Hispanic immigrants in Texas . The scam has b een perpetuated, according to A b b ott, b y con artists posing as licensed attorneys or other legal experts.

The warning has b een accompanied b y a pu b lic outreach effort to educate the pu b lic a b out ways they can protect themselves. Also, A b b ott announced a judgment against an Austin area woman found to have b een perpetrating this type of fraud.

"Notarios" typically o b tain a notary pu b lic license and then market themselves to the Spa nish -speaking community as a "notario publico." Notario pu b licos in Mexico are licensed attorneys. In the US , a notary pu b lic license is relatively easy to o b tain 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.

A b b ott noted that many "notarios" charge exor b itant fees, file unnecessary documents, disappear with money and perfo rm poor services that jeopardize clients' cases.

"The a b uses perpetrated b y fraudulent 'notarios' and their likes have caused much suffering for Texas families," said Attorney General A b b ott. "These schemes also create chaos in an already over b urdened immigration system," he added.

The Travis County judgment was against Bar b ara Seigert, a notary pu b lic, who had offered to fill out and process immigration fo rm s on b ehalf of consumers. The judgment stops Ms. Seigert from selling her services to immigrants or using the Spa nish te rm s "notario" or "notario pú b lico" 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.