Immigration frauds swamp Chandigarh

• The financial toll on victims has surged as well, with losses skyrocketing from Rs 1 crore in 2021 to an alarming Rs 7.29 crore in 2023

• In the span of just 11 months this year, 53 cases of immigration fraud have been registered, marking a significant escalation from 11 cases in 2021 and 36 in 2022

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Chandigarh, a city grappling with a concerning surge in immigration fraud cases, has seen a drastic increase in incidents over the past three years, according to a report by ToI.

In the span of just 11 months this year, 53 cases of immigration fraud have been registered, marking a significant escalation from 11 cases in 2021 and 36 in 2022. The financial toll on victims has surged as well, with losses skyrocketing from Rs 1 crore in 2021 to an alarming Rs 7.29 crore in 2023.

Law enforcement, taking a proactive stance, has cracked down on individuals involved in these fraudulent activities. Notably, 35 owners, employees, and agents of various immigration firms have been arrested by Chandigarh police by the end of November this year. This contrasts with 31 arrests in the previous year and a mere 12 in 2021.

The situation raises concerns about the need for comprehensive regulation and vigilance in the immigration sector to protect aspiring candidates from falling victim to fraud

The modus operandi of many of these fraud cases involves victims responding to advertisements on social media from immigration firms. Subsequently, applicants are issued fake visas, and when disputes arise over refunds, firm owners vanish, leaving their offices closed.

Responding to the accusations, an owner of a Sector 17-based immigration firm argued that the blame should not lie solely on the companies. They suggested that some applicants submit forged documents to secure visas, and when their applications are rejected, they shift the blame to the immigration firms.

In an effort to curb these fraudulent activities, Chandigarh police have appealed to the Union home ministry to enforce the Punjab Travel Professions Regulation Act in Chandigarh, seeking more robust measures against such scams. The situation raises concerns about the need for comprehensive regulation and vigilance in the immigration sector to protect aspiring candidates from falling victim to fraud.

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