Visa scams on the rise
Travellers looking to apply for a Schengen visa have been warned by VFS Global of scammers and have also been advised to not leave their applications for the last minute.
According to Schengen.news, the visa outsourcing company has been receiving complaints recently of scammers and intermediaries who are offering fake appointments and promising positive decisions in exchange for money.
In a statement, VFS Global Head of North Asia and the Philippines Bernard Vijaykumar warned everyone to be extremely cautious.
Vijaykumar also recommended that travellers apply for visas well in advance, because leaving everything for the last minute increases the risk of delays and exposes applicants to scammers who want to exploit their urgency.
“We strongly encourage all travellers to apply for their visas well in advance of their intended travel dates. Waiting until the last moment not only increases the risk of delays but also exposes applicants to fraudulent entities seeking to exploit their urgency.” Vijaykumar said as per Schengen.news.
He also said that visa applications can and should be filed up to six months before the planned travel date.
Warning signs that indicate a scam
According to VFS Global, there are certain things to look out if you think you’re dealing with a possible scammer. These may include:
- Scammers usually request advance payments to personal bank accounts with the threat of visa application rejection.
- They seek personal information under the pretext of re-validating information in the application.
- Pixelated and out-of-proportion logos are used on fabricated documentation.
- All communication stops with the scammer once payment has been made.
Have you been swindled before?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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