Visa Frauds in India: How to protect yourself from scams (2024)

Synopsis

India has seen a rise in immigration scams, with fraudulent agents exploiting individuals seeking to study, work, or migrate abroad. Recent arrests and visa scrutiny have increased. Major cases include the Healthyway Visa Fraud Case, Chandigarh’s Fake Visa Racket, and Kerala Visa Scandal. Tips are provided to protect against visa fraud.

Visa Frauds in India: How to protect yourself from scams (1)Agencies

India has seen a rise in immigration scams over recent years. Unscrupulous agents have been exploiting individuals seeking to study, work, or migrate abroad. These fraudulent activities have led to significant financial and emotional distress for many victims and have damaged India’s reputation as a reliable source of skilled labor.

Recent Arrests and Visa Scrutiny

According to Delhi Police data, the IGI Airport Police have apprehended 108 fraudulent agents in the last six months. This figure marks a notable increase from the 51 arrests made during the same period last year. The heightened activity of these scammers has led to stricter visa regulations and more rigorous scrutiny of Indian applicants by foreign governments.

Visa Fraud Cases in India
Healthyway Visa Fraud Case: In 2011, Healthyway Immigration in Chandigarh came under scrutiny after allegations of a visa fraud. The company allegedly promised guaranteed visas to Canada, the US, and Australia, targeting students and professionals. Despite charging high fees and promising quick processing, many victims allegedly ended up getting fake or unprocessed visas. The company's owner Amit Kakkar was arrested after investigation.

Chandigarh’s Fake Visa Racket
In 2018, a major visa fraud scandal emerged in Chandigarh. A group of travel agents was discovered issuing fake visas and forging documents for individuals wanting to migrate to Canada, the U.S., and Australia. These agents charged high fees and promised rapid processing but ended up deceiving their clients. Many victims faced detention or were denied entry upon arrival at their destinations.

Kerala Visa Scandal (2023): A network of travel agents in Kerala was found to be issuing fake visas for individuals intending to migrate to various countries, including Australia and the U.K. The agents forged documents and charged high fees for services that were never delivered. This scandal resulted in numerous complaints from affected individuals and led to several arrests and legal actions.

Here are some tips to help protect yourself from visa fraud:
Research the Agency: Verify the legitimacy of immigration consultants or agencies. Check for reviews, official certifications, and complaints. Look for accreditation from recognized regulatory bodies.

Avoid Unrealistic Promises: Be cautious of agencies that guarantee visas or promise expedited processing for an extra fee. Legitimate consultants cannot guarantee visas as approval depends on various factors.

Check Credentials: Ensure that the consultant or agency is registered with relevant immigration authorities or has a recognized license. In India, consult the Ministry of External Affairs or other regulatory bodies for verification.

Read the Fine Print: Carefully review all documents and agreements before signing. Be wary of hidden fees or terms that seem too good to be true.

Be Skeptical of High Fees: If an agency demands unusually high fees for visa processing, especially upfront, it may be a red flag. Compare fees with other reputable agencies to ensure they are reasonable.

Verify Contact Information: Use official contact methods to reach out to immigration agencies or consultants. Avoid using contact details provided by unsolicited emails or messages.

Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect that you have been targeted by a fraudster or have encountered suspicious behavior, report it to local authorities or the Ministry of External Affairs immediately.

Seek Recommendations: Get referrals from friends, family, or colleagues who have successfully used legitimate immigration services. Personal recommendations can be a good indicator of reliability.

Educate Yourself: Stay informed about the visa application process and requirements. Knowing what to expect can help you identify and avoid fraudulent schemes.

Use Official Channels: Always use official government websites and resources for visa information and application. Avoid relying solely on third-party websites or agencies.

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Visa Frauds in India: How to protect yourself from scams (2024)

FAQs

Visa Frauds in India: How to protect yourself from scams? ›

Check for reviews, official certifications, and complaints. Look for accreditation from recognized regulatory bodies. Avoid Unrealistic Promises: Be cautious of agencies that guarantee visas or promise expedited processing for an extra fee.

Will Visa refund money if scammed? ›

Dispute the charge to get a refund

For example, Visa requires issuers to credit you for unauthorized charges within five days after you notify them. However, the credit is provisional and could be reversed if they determine after investigation that you were guilty of “gross negligence” or fraud yourself.

Does Visa protect against scams? ›

Our Zero Liability Policy provides a guarantee that you won't be held responsible for any unauthorised payments made with your card or card details. You're protected if your Visa debit or credit card is lost, stolen or used fraudulently, online or offline.

How can I avoid Visa scams? ›

Do It Yourself
  1. Immigration forms are free. Never pay to get official forms. ...
  2. If you have questions, use the Tools section on the USCIS website or get more resources on the USCIS Avoid Scams page.
  3. Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 if you need information you can't find online.

Can I get my money back after being scammed in India? ›

For amounts less than Rs 50,000, banks can refund the money without a court order if deemed fraudulent, based on internal policies and Indian Banks' Association guidelines. People cheated by cyber cons have other options to reclaim their money.

How do I get my money back from an international scammer? ›

If you sent money to scammers via wire transfer

Your best bet to recover stolen money is to immediately contact your bank or credit card issuer and inform them of the situation.

How do I recover my money from a scammer? ›

Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back. Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?

How can I protect myself from scams? ›

8 Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud
  1. Guard your online information. ...
  2. Monitor your accounts. ...
  3. Business Email Compromise. ...
  4. Shred sensitive documents. ...
  5. Check your credit report. ...
  6. Think twice about sharing your information. ...
  7. Implement fraud detection tools. ...
  8. Report suspicious activity.

How do I protect my Visa card? ›

6 ways to keep your credit card safe
  1. Do a double take. ...
  2. Don't loan your card. ...
  3. Keep your eyes on your card. ...
  4. Don't share. ...
  5. Check it out. ...
  6. Shred it.

Does Visa have payment protection? ›

When you pay in full for an item with your eligible Visa you will receive, free of charge and without registering, protection against theft or accidental damages, within 180 days of the purchase date.

What not to do when you get scammed? ›

STOP CONTACT WITH THE SCAMMER.

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

What not to say to scammer? ›

Don't answer personal questions, don't engage, and if you must respond, consider answering with a question like, “Who is calling?” If you believe that the call is not legitimate, don't be afraid to hang up: it's not impolite to hang up on a scammer.

How do you escape a scammer? ›

8 things you can do to avoid being scammed
  1. Be suspicious. ...
  2. Don't trust unexpected contact. ...
  3. Do your research. ...
  4. Resist demands to act quickly. ...
  5. Keep your computer virus protection up to date. ...
  6. Never open attachments or click on links in emails if words or images make you feel unsure about the sender.

How can I get a scammer in trouble in India? ›

चक्षु - Report Suspected Fraud Communication

Note: If you have already lost money due to financial fraud or are a victim of cyber-crime, please report at cyber crime helpline number 1930 or website https://www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Can police recover money from a scammer in India? ›

Official agencies do not charge fees for recovering stolen funds. The police also urged individuals who have been victims of online financial fraud to report the incident to the police immediately by calling 1930. Timely reporting increases the chances of recovering lost funds, they added.

What is the punishment for scamming in India? ›

The maximum punishment for frauds as specified in Section 447 is imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to ten years and fine which shall not be less than the amount involved in the fraud but may extend to three times the amount involved in fraud.

Can I get money back on my credit card if scammed? ›

If you paid by card or PayPal

If you've paid for something you haven't received, you might be able to get your money back. Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.

Can a bank refund your scammed money from your debit card? ›

While banks are generally obligated to refund money lost to fraud, they may deny the refund if you were negligent or involved in the scam. Whether or not your bank will refund scammed money depends on the bank's policies, the type of scam, and how you paid.

Can Visa reverse a payment? ›

Visa cardholders can request their issuer cancel or reverse a charge where the merchant has not refunded the cardholder when: The cardholder has lawfully cancelled their agreement in accordance with the online, phone or mail order merchant's cancellation policy; or.

Can money be refunded to a Visa card? ›

When requesting money back, the merchant will generally credit the refund to your original form of payment, so if you paid by card, you won't receive physical cash back. Your credit card issuer will then post a statement credit to your account, effectively reducing your statement balance by the refunded amount.

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