Visiting a foreign country can be one of the most exciting and eye-opening experiences you’ll ever have, but it can also be an experience fraught with peril. Scammers are everywhere these days, and one of the most common scams to fall victim to while visiting another country is what’s called the visa scam. Travelers who visit another country either for business or pleasure will oftentimes have to get a tourist visa if they plan on staying in that country for more than 90 days. The best is to hire the best and trusted tourist visa agent.
The U.S. Department of State estimates that every year thousands of people from other countries lose money to visa scams, which involve one or more criminal schemes to defraud people who are seeking visas to travel to the United States.
When in Rome… Many people say this before they go on vacation and it’s no different when you are traveling outside of your home country, whether it’s to Europe or Asia or Australia. However, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down just because you are visiting another country; scams are everywhere and these kinds of scams often target tourists who don’t know how things work in the country they are visiting.
1) Bogus Job Offers
Every year, countless tourists fall victim to visa scams. One of the most common scams is the bogus job offer. The scammer will reach out to the tourist, usually through an online job board or classified ad, and offer them a well-paying job in their home country. The only catch is that the tourist must pay for their own visa and travel expenses. Once the tourist pays up, they never hear from the scammer again. In order to avoid this type of scam, it’s important to always be wary of any offers on websites like Craigslist. In addition, it’s important not to send any money until you have confirmed that the offer is legitimate. If someone offers you a job in exchange for money upfront, don’t take the bait!
2) Overpayment
The second way tourists fall victim to visa scams is by overpaying for their visa. This can happen in a few different ways. For example, you may be asked to pay more than the official fee, or you may be quoted one price but then asked to pay more when you go to pick up your visa. Or, you may be offered a discount if you pay in cash. Whatever the case, if you are asked to pay more than the official fee, it is likely a scam.
3) Marriage Proposals
You’re on vacation, enjoying the sights and sounds of a new country when suddenly, you’re approached by a handsome stranger. He tells you he’s fallen in love with you and wants to marry you. It all seems too good to be true…and it is. Unfortunately, visa scams like this one are all too common. In order to avoid being scammed, tourists should watch out for these red flags:
– The proposal comes from an unknown person;
– The proposal does not involve any family or friends;
– The proposal includes requests for money or favors in return for your marriage.
