Visa scams are not uncommon and often at times people who are intent on traveling in the shortest time frame possible fall prey to these scammers.

Here are 5 ways to identify a visa scam from the get go:

Unofficial website

The padlock icon seen when a secure website is accessed is a clear indicator to the safety of that website. This is something to look out for as websites without the padlock icon can be unsafe and a den of scammers. Always verify websites for authenticity.

Unrealistic offers

These offer could be an appeal to the greed or impatience of an individual and this is a tactic used by scammers to victimise people. Unrealistic offers like; fast tracking visa procedures, guaranteed Visa approval and visa without proper documentation.

Demands for payment in advance

They often do this through untraceable means: Be cautious of payment requests through unofficial methods or money transfer services like PayPal or Western Union.

Unprofessionalism

Scammers are prone to grammatical errors. Official emails from embassies or immigration services are professionally written and proofread for errors. This erases the possibility of spelling errors, poor formating or awkward wording. Always look out for these subtle signs, because they?re clear pointers to whether you are about to be scammed or not.

Unsolicited offers

Be wary of individuals or businesses offering immigration help unsolicited, as legitimate professionals usually don?t seek out clients this way. This is a strategy mostly used by scammers. (Vanguard)

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