Visa scams are increasingly reported among travellers, as many countries are replacing paper visas and entry stamps with E-visas or Electronic Travel Authorisation systems. This digitalisation has also resulted in new opportunities for scammers to deceive inexperienced travellers into fake government websites.
The Singapore Police in December last year warned of a recent trend of phishing scams involving online applications for entry visas for various countries and other related services.
At least 22 such cases were reported in November and December with total losses amounting to at least US$2,240, said the police. Even though this amount may appear to be small, it is still a crime and causes much inconvenience to travellers especially when they are stopped from boarding their flights.
Warning signs
Scammers are increasingly setting up convincing copycat websites, spoofing official portals and charging inflated fees for fake or unnecessary documents.
Some victims would receive URL links from acquaintances or friends. The victims would be redirected to phishing websites after clicking on the URL links. Some phishing websites were also in the top search results or appeared as paid advertisements, which increased their perceived credibility.
Victims would then key in their personal and credit or debit card information, thinking they were providing information and making payment for the services.
They would only realise that they had been duped upon checking with the immigration service at the destination country and discovering that they did not have a valid entry visa or that their digital arrival card had not been submitted.
To help avoid visa scams, insurance experts Quotezone.co.uk shares the following tips:
- Use official government websites only
Make sure to navigate on official government E-visa application platforms to avoid falling victim to fraudulent sites. - Check visa requirements early
Visa rules and entry requirements vary widely depending on the country. Research well in advance to understand what documents you need and avoid the stress of last-minute applications. This reduces the risk of turning to unofficial websites in a panic to get your visa sorted quickly. - Beware of high fees or urgent pressure
Official visa fees are usually fixed and clearly stated on government websites. Be suspicious if you’re asked to pay significantly higher fees or if you’re pressured to apply urgently. Scammers often use fear tactics to rush you into paying for unnecessary or fake services. - Look for HTTPS and check the web address
Ensure the website you’re using is secure by looking for “https://” at the start of the URL and a padlock symbol in the browser. Double-check the web address carefully – scammers often create websites with similar names to official portals, but with subtle differences. Fake E-visa service providers mimic government websites by using country flags or logos that can look familiar, thus attracting inexperienced travellers to trust their websites instead of official sources.
You can also spot them through unprofessional design and grammatical errors in the content. They might contain non-visa-related information or services such as travel tours, pop-up windows and advertisements. If you apply via a third-party service provider, verify their experience through credentials and reviews.
- Never share sensitive information over email or text
Legitimate immigration authorities or embassies will not request payment details, passport scans, or personal information through insecure email or text messages. Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unexpected messages claiming to be official. - Pay with a credit card if possible
Where payment is required, use a credit card as it provides an extra layer of protection. If you discover fraud or need to dispute a charge, credit card companies could help you recover your money.
Other useful tips
Stay away from websites where you get one or more of the following requests:
- Click on links in an email, to open webpages or attachments, or to upload documents with sensitive information;
- Pay or transfer money via unofficial channels;
- Pay large amounts of money upfront;
- Buy gift cards or vouchers;
- Transfer money to release your information or fix your account;
- Give remote access to your computer;
The inconvenience of gaining a fake E-visa is not covered by travel insurance. If you are found travelling with a fake visa, you may be arrested, jailed, or deported on arrival.
