CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Authorities say phony documents are being used to scam illegal immigrants in the Charlotte area.

"It's fraud, it's stealing, it's lying and cheating," said local immigration attorney Alan Gordon about papers claiming to make illegal immigrants members of a Native American tribe in Omaha, Neb., for a fee of several hundred dollars.

Immigration officials say the papers are useless and can not keep illegal immigrants from being deported. They said it's difficult to determine how many illegal immigrants in the Carolinas have lost money in the scam because most are afraid to come forward due to their immigration status.

Gordon said the scam is just a small part of a bigger problem.

"Immigration is still broken; Congress hasn't fixed it," he said.

SURVEY: Is The Government Doing Enough To Combat Illegal Immigration?

IMMIGRATION: Find Out How To Contact Legislators And Get The Latest On Immigration In The Carolinas