New York ( CNN ) -- New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Monday lawsuits to permanently shut down three Brooklyn-based companies that targeted Haitian communities with fraudulent immigration services . The companies and their owners , who are not lawyers , are accused of illegally providing legal advice and services to Haitian immigrants , charging them thousands of dollars to process immigration applications that could be filed for a nominal fee or free through a waiver . Further , as non-lawyers , the owners are prohibited from providing legal advice or representing anyone before immigration authorities , according a press release from Cuomo 's office . The lawsuits also seek to compensate the victims . `` In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince , New York 's Haitian residents have sadly been a target for immigration scams , bringing further pain to a community that has already suffered so much , '' Cuomo said in a statement . The U.S. Department of Homeland Security allowed all Haitians residing in the United States as of January 12 , when the powerful earthquake struck the island nation , to stay in the country for 18 months to seek Temporary Protected Status . After that announcement , the attorney general 's office received complaints that Haitian immigrants were targeted by companies offering fraudulent and illegal immigration services at high prices . `` These cases are a part of the Attorney General 's ongoing crackdown on immigration scams throughout New York , '' Cuomo wrote in the statement . `` I urge anyone who has been affected by this type of fraud to contact my office . '' The lawsuits were filed against Chay Pa Lou Community Center Inc. , Delegue Tax Consultant Inc. and their owner and operator , Jean Michel ; and Rincher 's Multi-Service , also known as Rincher Bookstore , Rincher Associates and Haitian American Entrepreneur 's Group LLC , and its owners and operators , Deslande Seixas-Rincher and Sharlene Seixas-Rincher . According to Cuomo 's statement , Michel 's companies face liability for more than 100 known violations ; the companies owned and operated by the Seixas-Rinchers face liability for more than 30 known violations . In addition , Cuomo 's office has obtained a court order against Chay Pa Lou Community Center Inc. , freezing its assets and precluding it from destroying documents and transferring assets . Calls to the three Brooklyn-based companies for comment were not returned . New York state law requires anyone providing immigration services to comply with advertising , signage and surety requirements , and to give consumers written contracts in both the consumer 's native language and English that detail their services and cancellation policy . Furthermore , it is illegal to mislead or defraud any person in immigration-related services . The Office of the Attorney General said it will coordinate with several New York legal associations to help handle the companies ' existing cases and to protect victims .
Companies accused of helping Haitian community with fraudulent immigration practices . Companies ' owners are not lawyers but provide legal advice , Cuomo says . Victims paid thousands for services that could be obtained for small businesses , office says . Lawsuits threaten to shut down companies and demand restitution for victims .