Facebook to Remove Imposter Accounts Tied to Immigration Scams

Manhattan DA's office says Meta has agreed to take action after repeated requests were declined.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:58am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a cracked smartphone screen reflecting a distorted Facebook logo, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the challenges of policing social media platforms for criminal activity.A harsh, gritty image of a damaged device reflects the ongoing battle between law enforcement and social media platforms over imposter accounts used to perpetrate fraud.NYC Today

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, has pledged to remove imposter accounts tied to scams that were recently flagged by the Manhattan district attorney's office, following a phone call between the two parties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Meta of failing to remove imposter accounts that pose as organizations like Catholic Charities to offer fake immigration services and scam money from unsuspecting victims.

Why it matters

Scammers frequently target immigrant populations who are perceived as more vulnerable to fraud and in need of legal assistance. This case highlights the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in policing their platforms for criminal activity and protecting users from fraud.

The details

In some instances, scammers create public Facebook accounts that mirror real accounts belonging to pro bono legal services organizations. In others, they create WhatsApp profiles posing as immigration lawyers associated with those same organizations, frequently using the names and logos of legitimate organizations to give the appearance of credibility. Bragg said these imposter accounts have led to tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent transfers.

  • Last week, Bragg accused Meta of failing to remove the imposter accounts after previous requests were declined.
  • This week, Meta agreed to remove the imposter accounts following a phone call with the Manhattan DA's office.

The players

Meta

The parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, which has agreed to remove imposter accounts tied to immigration scams.

Alvin Bragg

The Manhattan District Attorney who accused Meta of failing to remove imposter accounts that pose as organizations like Catholic Charities to offer fake immigration services and scam money from unsuspecting victims.

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What they’re saying

“These imposter accounts have led to tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent transfers.”

— Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney

“Account impersonation violates our policies, and we take action against people and groups that attempt to misuse our platforms. We're committed to engaging constructively with all levels of government, law enforcement and cross-sector partners to tackle this industry-wide challenge.”

— Meta spokesperson

What’s next

The Manhattan DA's office will continue to monitor Meta's actions to ensure the imposter accounts are removed and that the company takes further steps to prevent similar scams from occurring on its platforms.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in policing their platforms for criminal activity and protecting vulnerable populations, such as immigrant communities, from fraud. It also underscores the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and tech companies to address these industry-wide challenges.