Two new victims have come forward claiming they were scammed by a man who targets the Hispanic community.

Two victims from Glasgow have reported to the Bowling Green Police Department that they paid a total of $10,400 to Ronald M. Alvarez, 49, who is being sought by law enforcement in both Warren and Nelson counties.

Alvarez had convinced the two victims that he would obtain immigration papers for them, according to the report. The money had been paid to Alvarez over a period of three years, but he never delivered the documents.

These two new victims came forward in the case at the encouragement of a friend, said Officer Monica Woods, Hispanic communities liaison for the Bowling Green Police Department.

Reports from local police and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office now indicate there have been at least seven people who have paid money to Alvarez to prepare work or immigration documents for them.

According to the attorney general’s office, Alvarez represents himself as a “notario:” a position in Hispanic countries similar to a notary public.

Targets in these instances have generally been immigrants who are new to the country, according to the attorney general’s office.

This is the first known case of this type in Kentucky, but it would be a familiar scam to people who have lived in Texas or Florida, according to the attorney general’s office.

Woods had previously stated that educating the public was the most effective method of stopping these types of crimes. After the initial report about Alvarez in August, she spoke to leaders in the Hispanic community about the incidents.

The attorney general’s office had also reached out to Spanish language radio shows and newspapers to inform them about Alvarez in particular and this type of scam.

In Warren County, Alvarez has already been indicted on four counts of theft by deception of more than $300, according to Chris Cohron, commonwealth’s attorney for Warren County.

The first case locally was reported Feb. 19 to city police, he said.

Alvarez is still at large, said Allison Martin, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office.

“We have received some very good information about his possible location,” she said. “We can’t discuss that information at this time because it might compromise the investigation.”

Anyone with information about Alvarez’s location or has had dealings with Alvarez is asked to contact BGPD at 393-2473.