Visa fraud warning: VFS Global says more than 900 scam sites taken down
VFS Global is warning against requests for personal information through social media, email, SMS or telephone calls
Visa scamming platforms are on the rise globally, according to visa outsourcing company VFS Global. The company has reported over 900 fraudulent websites and online platforms that have been taken down, said Anirudh Singh, VFS Global's chief operating officer. VFS Global has a dedicated team that identifies these fraudulent websites through emails, social media, and other reporting channels, working closely with UAE law enforcement agencies.
The company's situation is "continuous" due to the rapid increase in digital usage and new technology, and it is likely to persist, Singh said.
Embassies and security agencies, as well as companies like VFS, have launched public awareness campaigns to warn potential victims. In July, Denmark's consulate in the UAE warned of a surge in fraudulent Schengen visa applications, with approximately 10 fraudulent applications received daily. The Schengen visa allows entry to 29 European countries to non-EU nationals, but Emiratis do not need a visa to visit Schengen countries.
Visa scammers typically impersonate official bodies, create urgency, and demand money or personal data before the applicant can verify anything. Fraudsters have been known to use unlicensed company names or pose as official bodies through social media and messaging apps. The most industrialized version of these scams targets electronic travel authorizations (ETAs), such as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is not yet operational.
Any site accepting applications for an ETA is not a legitimate intermediary, according to Alena Iakina, co-founder of visarun.ai, a Dubai-based platform that automates visa processing.
VFS Global warns against fraudsters who forge the company's official credentials and email IDs to lure unsuspecting visa applicants. The company also advises against using travel agents and websites offering "dummy air ticket" services, as applicants are ultimately responsible for the documents submitted.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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