Beware Of Visa Scams:
In this period of global pandemic, visa scam is now a new trick scammers use in deceiving unsuspecting victims so as to collect their hard-earned money or personal information from them. Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and the bad state of economy in most countries, many citizens are planning to apply for visa to travel to other countries in search of greener pasture.
The scammers are aware of this and they want to take advantage of any available victim. Anyone may fall victim to visa scam irrespective of age, sex, profession, status or location but in most cases, the targets of the scammers are students planning to study abroad, job seekers, tourists and foreign investors.
In order to avoid falling victim to visa scam, adopt these necessary measures to guarantee your safety:
1. Don't be too desperate to travel out of your country.
2. Do a thorough investigation on the visa agent you are dealing with.
3. Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, text messages or calls that claim to be from an embassy where you didn't apply for a visa.
4. When an agent tells you to falsify any of your personal information, be suspicious. e.g. age, status, academic qualification etc.
5. Don't be convinced because of sweet words or advertising media.
6. Make sure there is a legal agreement between you and the visa agent you are dealing with.
7. Don't release your international passport to anyone you don't trust.
8. Don't disclose your plan to apply for visa with many people.
9. Be suspicious of any visa agent that tells you he will use his influence to get you a visa.
10. If the offer sounds too good to be true, ignore it immediately.
11. After your visa has been approved, confirm if it is real or fake.
12. Don't be convinced with testimonies but do a thorough investigation.
13. Process your visa through companies with good reputation.
14. Beware of fake schools that claim to give scholarship to students.
15. Be wise and always use common sense.
Rotimi Onadipe,
Tel: +234-8169121819 Email: [email protected]