Tips for detecting a Visa Fraud

Travelling overseas, though exciting and full of possibilities, also comes with its own share of issues.

With many people travelling abroad for different reasons – study overseas, migrate overseas, work overseas, invest overseas, and work overseas – there has been an increasing demand for visas globally.

With the need for visas growing at an unprecedented rate, there has also been an increase in visa scams likewise.

Recently, there have been many instances where the scamster impersonated employees or associates of some well-known companies or government organizations.

Winning the trust of the unsuspecting visa applicants, such fraudsters and scammers ask for payments for all kinds of services, rendered or not.

Here, let us see the subtle difference, often overooked, between a scam and a fraud.

By a ‘scam’ is meant a dishonest scheme usually involving money or a business transaction. A fraud, on the other hand, is where a deception is implied. Involving a breach of trust, a fraud is more serious than a scam.

Things to keep in mind

1. Scammers often use advanced technology for cloning official websites and masking numbers. When a call is made by the scammer, it seems to the visa applicant that the call has been placed by the official channels. It is indeed hard to tell the difference.
2. Fabricated job offers often follow up the initial call by the scammer. E-mails are sent with official looking documents asking either for private information to be supplied or for an upfront payment to be made.
3. No visa agent can guarantee you immigration or a job overseas.
4. Regardless of how much you would like to get the word out to your friends, never post the number of your passport or visa application on any Social Media platforms.
5. Authorized visa agents and consultants will never ask you for an upfront payment by e-mail or phone.
6. Analyze the logos on the official documents that you receive. Despite the most advanced technology being used for duplicity, you can always tell the difference between the genuine and the fake. Look closely.
7. Be wary when you get immigration proposals and job offers from personal email accounts that appear fake.
8. It is a big warning sign when you are threatened with rejection of visa application or deportation if you do not make an advance payment to any personal bank account.

Always be cautious when dealing with visa agents and consultants. Only trust registered and well-experienced consultants that have a good market reputation.

Keep in mind that many too-good-to-be-true schemes are often just that. Not true, that is.

Y-Axis offers a wide range of visa and immigration services and products to the aspiring overseas immigrants including Y-Jobs and Y-Path.

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

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