Protect Yourself Against Migration Scams and Fraud
Sometimes emails are sent by people masquerading to be Migration Expert and requesting that you supply personal details, account passwords or payment.
Migration Expert endeavours to ensure that all communication between us and our clients is conducted through our secure Client Area. Any email Migration Expert sends you will have your unique Client ID on it. We will never send an email asking you to update your account password or to provide us with your bank account or credit card details.
What you need to know
- Providing immigration and visa advice is regulated in most countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the US
- Migration Expert employs only Migration Consultants and Lawyers that are registered with the relevant regulatory body
- Appointing a Migration Consultant or Lawyer to assist you with your visa application or to provide you with immigration advice does not guarantee you will be granted a visa
- Only authorised representatives of the appropriate governing body can grant you a visa Migration Expert does not appoint or enter into affiliate arrangements with any third parties.
To read more about who can legally provide immigration advice, please visit our About Us page.
What to look out for
Opportunities that seem too good to be true usually are. Be wary of emails offering the following:
- Guaranteed visas or employment;
- Free air tickets or accommodation.
Always check the legitimacy of any email that seems suspicious before you respond. Legitimate companies don't usually use free email providers (such as hotmail) to contact their clients and will have proof read their email for any spelling or grammatical errors.
What to do if you suspect an email
If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of an email from Migration Expert:
- Do NOT respond to the email
- Log in to your secure Client Area to see our latest communication with you
- Check that the email sent to you has your unique client id on it
- Contact our Client Services team (use the contact details on our website) to verify the email
- Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software to protect your computer
- Report it to Migration Expert immediately, providing a copy of the email
- If you have supplied your bank account or credit card details, please contact your financial institution immediately and ask for their advice.
If you feel you may have been the victim of fraud contact the UK Police.
Recent fraudulent activity
Below are details of recently identified fraudulent emails.
Date: 31 October 2015
Sender:Barr. Martine Cole using email address super.martincoleuicd7@yandex.com
Scammers are sending emails using Migration Expert’s UK office address to falsely advertise visa sponsorship and visa processing. Migration Expert does not use public email accounts such as Yandex to communicate with clients, and all communication is carried out through the secure client area of our website.
Date: 28 September 2015
Subject:HERE IS ALL YOUR TRAVELING DOCUMENT PROCESSING DETAILS or HERE IS OUR PAYMENT DETAILS IN UNITED STATE WHERE YOU HAVE TO SEND YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENT FEES WHICH IS 800 USD
Sender:migrationexpert2015@hotmail.com
Scammers are using Migration Expert's brand to falsely offer visa assistance in relation to fake Travel Documents to the UK. Emails are being sent asking for private details on a false job application. Subsequent emails may include an employment contract, a letter of invitation and an introduction to Mahdi Stephens purportedly from Migration Expert who will assist with a visa application. Please be aware that Migration Expert is not affiliated with Mahdi Stephens and conducts all communication with its clients through the secure client area of our website.
Date: 13 March 2012
Sender:Lt. Robert P Hook, Larrytez Jones, Juliet Rogers or Monica Stewart
using email addresses cruiselineclientcenter@consult.com or cruiseshippingjob@ymail.com
Scammers are using Migration Expert's brand to falsely offer visa assistance in relation to fake employment opportunities on a cruise ship operated by Crystal Cruises, Inc or Crystal Cruise Line (Sydney) Australia ("Crystal Cruises"). Emails are being sent asking for private details on a false job application. Subsequent emails may include an employment contract, a letter of invitation and an introduction to Lt. Robert P Hook purportedly from Migration Expert who will assist with a visa application. Please be aware that Migration Expert is not affiliated with Crystal Cruises and conducts all communication with its clients through the secure client area of our website.
Date: 14 June 2011
Sender:Cynthia Corrales, or Mariela Salinas
Scammers are using Migration Expert's brand to falsely advertise visa sponsorship and jobs for restaurant workers. Please be aware that as a legal firm, Migration Expert only offers immigration advice, we do not provide sponsorship to individuals, nor do we arrange employment. Migration Expert does not use public email accounts such as Gmail to communicate with clients, and all communication is carried out through the secure client area of our website.
Date: 4 February 2011
Subject:MIGRATION EXPERT UK VISA REQUIREMENT QUESTIONAIRE FORM
Sender:Migration Expert [clientcare_info@migrationexpert.biz.tc]
Spammers are sending emails that use Migration Expert's name and email footer. The email requests that a questionnaire be completed and returned. Upon completion of the questionnaire, a second email is sent requesting scanned documents and payment by Western Union. Migration Expert does not accept Western Union payments and conducts all communication and requests for information through our secure client area.
Date: 3 February 2011
Sender:ukmigration.experts@rocketmail.com, or british.americancompany@yahoo.co.uk
Spammers are sending emails that use Migration Expert and UK immigration Consultant names. The email requests that payment is made to the Nigeria Landex Freight Courier Service in order to receive documents. All Migration Expert Documents are delivered to clients online through our secure client area. Current Migration Consultants are listed in the Our Registered Immigration Consultants section of the website.
Date: 30 July 2010
Subject: WE HAVE FINISHED THE PROCESSING OF YOUR DOCUMENTS (CLIENT'S NAME)
Sender: UNITED KINGDOM MIGRATION EXPERTS [info.qualityservice@gmail.com]
Spammers are sending emails that use the format of Migration Expert's newsletter. The email claims that the client's work permit, entry documents and employment contract are ready. The email asks for payment to be made by Western Union to ship packaged documents. Don't reply to emails requesting payment without checking your payment status through the secure Client Area. Be particularly wary of emails coming from free email providers.
Date: 10 March 2010
Subject: YOUR DOCUMENTS IS READY
Sender: Immigration Agent [ukmigrationexperts@yahoo.co.uk]
Spammers are sending plain text emails with the Migration Expert logo in numerous places. The email claims that the client's work permit, employment contract and flight is ready and asks for payment to be made to British DHL to ship a package. The email asks for payment to be made by Standard Bank (STD) Money-Gram International Transfer. Don't reply to emails requesting payment without checking your payment status through the secure Client Area. Be particularly wary of emails coming from free email providers.
Date: 26 November 2008
Subject: YOUR DOCUMENTS IS READY
Sender: Ukmigration Experts [ukmigrationexperts@rocketmail.com]
Spammers are sending emails that use the format of Migration Expert's newsletter. The email claims that the client's work permit, employment contract and flight is ready and asks for payment to be made by Western Union to ship a package. Don't reply to emails requesting payment without checking your payment status through the secure Client Area. Be particularly wary of emails coming from free email providers.
Below are details of recently identified fraudulent websites.
Website: http://www.maplefly.ca/