Federal authorities are warning the public about fraud schemes aimed at exploiting relatives of unaccompanied children who've recently entered the United States.
San Antonio-based FBI officials say in a statement that perpetrators have demanded payments from family members, claiming the monetary payments will cover processing and travel expenses needed to allow the children to be reunited with their families.
Authorities say individuals involved in these schemes request payments ranging from about $300 to several thousand dollars. The number of victims and amount of losses is not immediately known. Officials are asking anyone with information about the fraud schemes to contact their local FBI office.
Thousands of unaccompanied Central American children have recently poured into South Texas, though federal officials say the flow has slowed in recent weeks.
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