The Filipino Community in Australia is advised to exercise caution when dealing with entities posing as immigration law firms, visa travel companies, organizations or government agencies.

The Command and Coordination Centre of INTERPOL has issued a Purple Notice on immigration and visa-related fraud involving scammers collecting supposed advance fees or payments for administrative processes promising non-existent study visas, scholarships, jobs or permanent residence abroad.

The offenders increasingly use social media to communicate with prospective victims and utilize “fake or look-alike” websites to perpetrate their crimes.

Filipino victims of immigration and visa-related fraud in Australia are encouraged to file a complaint with Australian law enforcement authorities and the Philippine Embassy in Canberra.