Don’t fall for visa application fraud, be cautious - VFS Global Advice

 

The flip side to this dream for several gullible youngsters and job-seekers in India and Nigeria though, remains the threat of fraud. Over the last year, VFS Global has continually faced the issue of scammers posing as employees or associates of the organisation and embezzling innocent applicants.

Misusing VFS Global’s trusted name in the visa space, such scammers lure unsuspecting aspirants with the false promise of overseas settlement. An all-too-frequent modus operandi involves a scammer using new software and other technology, to clone VFS Global’s web page and mask their phone numbers, so it appears that the call has indeed come from an official VFS Global 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 applicant will have to make an upfront payment and share personal information to take things forward.

Most applicants unfortunately fall victim to such scams, and pay large sums of money to the fraudsters in the hope of receiving their visa/immigration papers.  

• • VFS Global takes such duplicity very seriously and makes a continual effort to reach out to victims and potential applicants to warn them against such shams.
    

    ALWAYS REMEMBER

  • VFS Global staff is not authorised to guarantee jobs or immigration prospects to any customer. Applicants are also urged never to publish their passport or visa application numbers on public domains or social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook, as scammers are constantly on the lookout for this. Remember, VFS Global never asks for up-front payments via mail or phone.
    Applicants are advised that VFS Global has extensive safeguards in place to protect applicants’ personal data. The company is compliant with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, and has put in stringent security systems to abide by the legislation.
    

    HOW TO DETECT YOU ARE POSSIBLY DEALING WITH A SCAMSTER

  • You can usually detect a scam:
    
    • When you receive emails with job offers or immigration promises from fabricated email IDs via personal email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, .co.in, etc.).
    • When advance payments to personal bank accounts are demanded with the threat of visa application rejection or deportation.
    • When you receive pixelated and out-of-proportion VFS Global logo on the fabricated job offer letters and contracts.