CONSUMER ALERT: Workers’ compensation scam targeting Spanish-speaking workers

Alerta al consumidor: Estafa de compensación laboral dirigida a trabajadores que hablan español Attorney General Nick Brown is warning Washington residents about a scam targeting injured, Spanish-speaking workers across the Pacific Northwest. This scam has not yet been documented in Washington, but Washington workers should be aware that they may be targeted.  The Scam Scammers contact the injured worker via phone, email, video call, text message, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or social media apps, and falsely claim to represent government agencies, law firms, or courts. Communications may appear official because they include government agency seals, use government agency addresses, include signatures by government officials, or identify the caller as a government representative, attorney, or judge, but the communications are fraudulent.  The scammers tell the worker that they must pay money to receive workers’ compensation benefits or to receive a settlement. Scammers may request payment in the form of gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. After the worker pays, the scammers cut off contact and take the injured worker’s money.  In a variation of this scam, imposters try to convince the worker to appear at a fake online workers’ compensation hearing. The hearing may appear official and may include a fake judge
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