Type Investigations, South Side Weekly

Fraudsters Target Immigrants Seeking Legal Help

Alma Campos, Max Blaisdell

Alma Campos and Max Blaisdell of South Side Weekly, in collaboration with Type Investigations, put a price tag on fraudulent practices targeting immigrants seeking legal help that have been reported in at least 14 states: about $1.2 million. 

Their reporting illustrates how fear and lack of access to affordable attorneys and legal resources make the population particularly vulnerable. 

The notarios, or notaries, bilk immigrants out of money by misrepresenting the services they can legally provide, posing as attorneys, licensed notaries or trusted insiders. It’s a problem perpetuated by inconsistent enforcement. 

“This thorough investigation put an actual price to the fraudulent practices it uncovered while capturing the human cost through impactful storytelling,” a judge said. 

Campos and Blaisdell produced “a timely, well-reported piece that truly serves those who need it most,” one judge said. The article also focused on a “timely and underreported topic” while keeping immigrants at the center of the story, they said.

Read the Winning Work

Fraudsters Target Immigrants Seeking Legal Help Dec. 4, 2025