How to identify & tackle UK Visa immigration Scams!

by UK Immigration Lawyers in India

Published on: 03 Dec 2021
Reading time: Approx 6 mins

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In this article we have covered these important points:

Introduction: UK Visa Immigration Scam

  • We are all aware of fraudulent activities and scams that occur in our day-to-day lives
  • And we are alert and take precautions from the common vacuum and credit card scams
  • But immigration isn’t a routine activity, making it difficult to tackle
  • It can also make it difficult to identify or suspect UK Visa Scams when it’s over a phone
  • Especially for a country like the UK – known as a place of tremendous opportunities
  • Although applying for a UK visa can be stressful because of its strict immigration rules, UK Visa Immigration Scam is quite common
  • There are certain measures you could take to prevent yourself from UK Visa Immigration Scam

Let’s look into how to identify any UK Visa Scams and what to do to slide away from it.

How to identify a UK Visa Immigration Scam?

Telephonic UK Visa Immigration Scam

  • Someone calling you, pretending to be an agent or a government official, requesting personal & sensitive information, is a red flag!
  • These requests could include–a passport number, banking details, and asking you to pay for your application. And if you are a target of such a Visa Fraud UK, you can do these three things:
    • Never give out any of your personal information to the caller
    • Say “no,” or “no, thank you”
    • Hang up the phone

Local Business UK Visa Immigration Scam

  • Local businesses may promise or guarantee they can help people get visas or other important immigration documents.
  • However, when these businesses promise to offer this type of help, they are likely running Immigration Fraud UK to just take your money without getting you the results
  • To prevent this, do some digging! Do thorough research; for instance, by checking the business out on their website, social media handles, etc.

Dot Com UK Visa Immigration Scam

  • Some of the more modern and complicated Immigration Fraud UK involve online services or businesses that may even go so far as to mimic the logos, language, look and feel of registered law firms
  • To avoid this, make sure to check the ending of the URL for the website (i.e., the end of the website’s address), the ‘https’ in the link must include the ‘s’ at the end – it represents a secure financial correspondence.

Some easy ways to identify a UK Visa Immigration Scam

When there is something suspicious about the caller, keep these points in mind:

  • The scammer’s offer an easy job in the UK without any formal job interview or a faster and easier UK visa process.
  • Their website does not look professional or there will be no information about their organisation.
  • The scammers ask you to pay a particular amount either in cash or by using insecure payment methods such as money transfer, Ukash vouchers or Paysafecard – these payment methods do not allow a recipient to be traced
  • The scammers will ask you about your confidential information such as bank account numbers or credit card details via call or email.
  • The scammers will try to force you to act immediately otherwise your offer will be canceled.

Beware of UK Visa Immigration Scam

The people behind these UK Visa Immigration Scam and Visa Fraud UK, are trained enough to lure you into giving them your details or making a transaction. Do not fall for such Immigration Fraud UK. You must do a thorough research and know how to check UK Visa is original or fake.

👉🏻 Tips to choose the right UK visa expert and how they help

Conclusion – UK Visa Scams

  • Many clients have expressed their burden of previous experiences where they were conned by a voice over the phone
  • The caller tempts targets & guarantees visa outcomes whereas, it’s far from the truth!
  • The catch is – they also demand a fee & once the amount is transferred, you can’t connect with them anymore!
  • These are some classic UK Visa Scams! Beware of such UK Visa Scams and be alert when anyone contacts you without any information about them!

UK unearths large-scale abuse of student visas. Click here to read this article.

FAQ’s: UK Visa Immigration Scam

You may receive correspondence via phone calls, emails, WhatsApp messages, SMS, etc.
If the fraud was committed within the UK, you can report it to The UK Home Office or the Action Fraud website. Send an email of the complaint to complaints@homeoffice.gov.uk or visit https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ for more information.

If it was outside the UK, you can report the activity to your local authorities/police station. They generally have a cyber team for investigating such activities.

  • We can’t prevent these scams unless we identify it is one. To accomplish that, you need to do a background check, ask the person who has approached you, more about their company and client reviews. Look up their website, etc.
  • And if you are a target of such a sham, you can do these three things:
    • Never give out any of your personal information to the caller.
    • Say “no,” or “no, thank you.”
    • Hang up the phone
  • Make sure to check the ending of the URL for the website (i.e., the end of the website’s address), the ‘https’ in the link must include the ‘s’ at the end – it represents a secure financial correspondence.
  • If you have shared your banking or credit cards details or made a transaction to a message, email or phone call you received; call your bank or card provider immediately report the fraudulent activity.
  • In case this happens while you are in the UK, applying for an extension or a switch of visa routes, visit the Action Fraud website. It is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, where you have to report fraud if you have been defrauded or scammed.
  • If you are applying from your home country – file a complaint to the nearest police station. They generally have a Cryer crime department that will investigate further. Or you can look up online, if your country has a special website for immigration frauds like the UK, you can report there as well.
  • While for some countries you can enter a passport number and track your application, it’s not the same for the UK. Although, here’s what you could do to confirm with the immigration office if your application is in their system.
  • You can email the UK Home Office regarding your query.

Strictly speaking, this is not exactly tracking the application, but confirming your application is in the right hands.

Caseworkers contact their clients via phone calls. The applicant is notified of the status of the visa through emails or SMS.
  • We can’t prevent these scams unless we identify it is one. To accomplish that, you need to do a background check, ask the person who has approached you, more about their company and client reviews. Look up their website, etc.
  • And if you are a target of such a sham, you can do these three things:
    • Never give out any of your personal information to the caller.
    • Say “no,” or “no, thank you.”
    • Hang up the phone

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