Immigration Scam Scares Woman into Hiring Uber Driver for Shopping Spree

OAK CREEK, WI — A woman who was reported missing in Milwaukee who feared she was being deported, was found in Oak Creek being driven around by an Uber driver trying to arrange a payment to a con artist.

On April 25, Oak Creek police responded to the Meijer in Drexel Town Square after an Uber driver suspected that the woman he was driving around for a shopping spree might be the victim of a scam.

According to police reports, the Uber driver had been driving around an Asian female wearing a white jacket for approximately six hours as she was making "large purchases." The female paid the Uber driver the $180 bill he was owed for the transportation.

According to the report, after police intervened, the woman's husband arrived on scene and explained that he was unable to get ahold of her and reported her missing in Milwaukee due to the large transactions.

The woman reportedly told police that she received a call from "immigration" earlier in the day and stated she needed to pay $1,850 or she would be deported.
She told police that she made three purchases in Milwaukee and needed to get the remaining from a friend who lived in Oak Creek.

When officers attempted to speak with the "immigration employee" by phone, the employee reportedly would not provide any information.

The officer determined the later confirmed that the operation was a scam, and requested the couple file a police report regarding the scam activity.

All credit cards and banks were notified by the husband, who was also advised to contact Milwaukee Police regarding the scam.

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image via patch.com