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Tag: Visa scams

  • Actor Alesh Sanni warns against visa scams

    Actor Alesh Sanni warns against visa scams

    Nollywood star Alesh Sanni has cautioned Nigerians against relying on agencies for visa acquisition.

    He mentioned the risks and it potential financial ruin.

    Sanni stressed the importance of using genuine documents and avoiding exorbitant expenses for travel. 

    He noted that agents cannot guarantee visa issuance, as it ultimately depends on embassy approval.

    Sanni urged Nigerians to exercise wisdom and caution when seeking foreign travel.

    He highlighted the devastating consequences of spending millions and ones life savings only to be denied a visa. 

    Read Also: Alesh Sanni seeks help for ailing colleague Bisola Badmus

    Citing the country’s challenging economic climate, Sanni pointed out that embassies are increasingly stringent with visa approvals, making it essential to avoid falling prey to scams.

    He wrote: “Guys, pls, I won’t say this again, walai. Don’t use all your life savings for the agency to try a visa for you. Pls, stop this. Just try it with a good document, and don’t use millions for travel. Chai, this isn’t guarantee. Where do you wanna start from when you spent 20m to japa and got denied? Like how? Pls be wise. No be agent go give you visa o. Pls be wise, don’t be foolish.

    “They won’t listen. Economy is bad to embassies aren’t giving visas anyhow. You people should not be foolish, them go just scam you”.

  • Visa scams spike amid travel boom, VFS Global warns applicants

    Visa scams spike amid travel boom, VFS Global warns applicants

    The head of Sub-Saharan Africa, VFS Global, Alok Singhal, has attributed the rise in visa and early appointment booking scams in Nigeria to a surge in travel demand.

    Singhal disclosed this during a media parley in Lagos, stating that visa applications had reached unprecedented levels, creating an opportunity for scammers to prey on unsuspecting applicants by falsely offering early appointment slots in exchange for payment.

    He explained that appointment slots are provided online based on the volume of demand and the consulate’s internal capacity planning.

    He advised applicants to arrive at the centre at least 15 minutes before their scheduled time to avoid losing their slots.

    Read Also: How we’ve been fighting visa scams — ICPC boss

    “We strongly advise all applicants to be wary of touts and fraudulent individuals who promise early appointment bookings for a fee.

    “These scammers exploit social media and search platforms to create fake company profiles using official logos and names, deceiving genuine travelers”, Singhal warned.

    Singhal further explained that, according to a World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report in collaboration with VFS Global, the African Travel and Tourism sector could contribute $168 billion to the continent’s economy, with the potential to create over 18 million new jobs.

    He added that achieving this growth depends on policy reforms, including improved air infrastructure, visa facilitation, and tourism marketing.

    In response to rising fraud cases, VFS Global has introduced stricter measures to protect applicants from scammers posing as VFS Global officials.

    He emphasised that appointments are free and available on the VFS Global website, noting that the firm cannot influence visa approvals.

    “VFS Global only handles administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visas, passports, and consular services for governments,” he said.

    “We play no role in visa decision-making. This responsibility rests solely with the respective governments. Visa appointment availability, mandatory documentation, and application decisions, including processing times, are at the discretion of each government.”

    Also speaking at the event, VFS Global’s Regional Human Resources for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mrs. Taiwo Dayo-Abatan, noted that the company has been in operation for 23 years, partnering with 68 governments on visa administration.

    She also explained the firm’s refund policy, stating that it applies to any service fees or optional value-added services collected from applicants.