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“Notario” Scam Halted In Potter County
“Notario” Scam Halted In Potter County   | amar_txbz, DTPA, notario, notario scam, notary public,

Texas Business reports:  AMARILLO – The Texas Attorney General’s Office resolved the state’s enforcement action against a Potter County consultant who unlawfully provided immigration-related services – despite the fact that she was not licensed to do so. The defendant is charged with violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) and Notary Public Act.

Under an agreed final judgment and permanent injunction obtained by the State, Clara Isela Hernandez, doing business as Clara’s Multi Servicios, is prohibited from soliciting customers with false claims that she is legally authorized to handle clients’ immigration cases.

Under federal law, only licensed attorneys and organizations accredited by the Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) may offer immigration consulting services. Although Hernandez is a Texas commissioned notary public, she is not licensed as an attorney or accredited by BIA.

Texas law authorizes notaries public to witness the signing of legal documents – but specifically forbids them from providing immigration services, unless they hold a separate license to practice law. Scam artists have long exploited the misunderstanding between the term “notary” and the similar-sounding Spanish term “notario público,” which is used in Latin America to describe highly experienced, specialized attorneys.