Common Visa Scams to watch out for

Visa applicants are often the target of scams.

Worldwide, an increasing number of people are going abroad for different reasons – migration, study overseas, job overseas, investment purposes, or simply visiting relatives or for tourism.

With so many people country-hopping, there is also a corresponding huge demand for the relevant visas. Many of the people go through visa and immigration consultants.

It is these same agents that dupe unsuspecting applicants of their money.

Do keep in mind that with the technological advancements, scamsters have upped the ante, so to speak. Many scammers are so sophisticated that even the best of us might fail to spot them.

Common scams that visa applicants face

The common migration-related scams include –

Unregistered migration agents

You can spot an unregistered migration agent by certain red flags:

• Guaranteeing success of your visa application
• Promising to fast track your visa application
• Charging very high fees
• Asking you to pay without any receipt or contract
• Usually do not have a fixed address
• No permanent phone numbers
• Not providing the promised services

Be wary of those agents that promise you too much to be true.

Fake Job Offers

The modus operandi of scamsters using fake job offers to lure people is simple:

1. Advertising fake job opportunities and sponsorship claims for migration
2. Asking applicants to submit copies of their identification papers and supply other personal information
3. Using the identities of the applicants to apply for loans in the applicant’s name, without the applicant’s knowledge or prior approval

At times, the scamsters might continue extorting money for a long time, while misusing the identities on the side.

Phone and email scams

Often, scammers that engage in phone and email scams pretend that they are from any government body such as the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. They will then proceed to ask for a money transfer.

Do keep in mind that the Department of Immigration and Border Protection will never ask for payment via money transfer or on the phone.

Phishing Scams

Impersonating websites or other addresses and advertising materials of government departments, such scammers take unsuspecting applicants for a ride.

Always make it a point to log on to official websites only.

While there are many visa and immigration agents that you can approach, proceed with caution. Make it a point to approach only those agents that are registered and have the relevant experience in the field.

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If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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