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Be alert and stay clear of fraud: Smart guide for going overseas

With borders slowly reopening after months-long closures owing to the pandemic, visa applications submitted for various countries are at volumes higher than ever before. With this increased demand for visa application appointments, scammers pose as employees or associates of the organisation; or touts who promise an early appointment at an additional cost to embezzle job-seekers and innocent customers alike. Here are some of their modus-operandi particularly in the digital space:

Phishing

Phishing is a commonly used fraudulent attempt to acquire personal and sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details, through digital means by misusing official credentials. Considering the presence of imposter sites, it is important to be mindful to never share your personal information on an 'HTTP' website to begin with. Always look for websites that begin with 'HTTPS' when you are likely to seek or share information.

Chat apps

Touts could also reach out to customers via chat apps, offering simple assistance such as booking an appointment slot to apply for a visa when appointments are available online on a first-come-first-served basis completely free of cost.

Immigration-related fraud

Another technique used by a scammer is to trap unsuspecting aspirants with the false promise of overseas settlement. An all-too-frequent strategy involves a scammer using new software and other technology to clone official web pages of companies like VFS Global and mask their phone numbers, so it appears that the call has indeed come from an official line. The victim is then asked to verify the number on the official website, leading him/her to further believe the caller. The initial call is backed by fabricated job offer letters and official-looking documentation sent via email. To show acceptance of the job offer or immigration opportunity, the email states that the individual will have to make an up-front payment and share personal information to take things forward.

With the presence of location pins and information on popular social media and search platforms, many such fraudsters create a fake presence using the company credentials like logos, official name etc. and include their contact details in the details provided on these pages that deceive genuine travellers who mistake these as the official presence of the company.

Here are some warning signs that indicate a scam:

  • Scammers usually request advance payments to personal bank accounts with the threat of visa application rejection or deportation.
  • They seek personal information under the pretext of re-validating information in the application.
  • Emails about job offers or immigration are sent from fabricated email IDs, usually via commonly used personal email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo.co.in, etc.).
  • Pixelated and out-of-proportion logos are used on fabricated documentation (such as job offer letters and contracts).
  • All communication stops with the scammer once payment has been made.

Furthermore, one must be very careful about what they share, like their passport or visa application numbers via public domains on the internet or social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook, as scammers are constantly on the lookout for such information.

Tackling fraud at VFS Global

To make both applicants as well as the general public more aware of such fraudulent entities, VFS Global ensures adequate measures are in place including stringent data privacy norms to tackle fraud-like messages at multiple touchpoints, including:

  • Prompt replies to email enquiries or complaints
  • Communicating measures to detect fraud on our social media platforms regularly
  • SMS and call centre voice messages
  • Advertisements/posters

If you have any feedback on this article or would like to reach out to our team to know more, please email us at
communications@vfsglobal.com


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