With the number of people going through the australian migration department, one can definitely say that many are interested in heading to the land down under. However, while this one is definitely a good sight, such a large amount of people can also easily become prey to unscrupulous individuals. And being a victim of immigration scams is certainly not going to be a good experience.

According to new Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Bowen, immigration fraud is still one of the major problems that his department have to deal with. He said that, while the government has instituted tougher campaigns against them, there are still groups that manage to elude the authorities and victimize immigrant hopefuls. He added that despite some setbacks, this will still be a continuing battle against such unlawful elements.

Bowen also added that they will still continue to provide immigration applicants with tools and countermeasures to protect themselves against scammers. One of the new tools that he gave out as an example is the new online manual that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has launched. Dubbed the Protect Yourself From Immigration Fraud information kit, the manual aims to provide the user with basic information and tips in detecting fraud. The kit also gives out important guides on reporting immigration scammers, as well as the departments to contact.

Bowen also gave some tips on how to avoid fraud. He said that one of the most common ways con men trick visa applicants into falling to their trap is by purporting to be immigration agents. He said that even putting a simple “registered migration agent” note on a scam website can easily lure a lot of people.

Thus, Bowen advised the public to be wary of such bogus agents. He said that the first thing that people should always do when looking for immigration agents is to search the list provided by the Migration Agent Registration Authority (MARA). He said that these are the only ones accredited by MARA and qualified to provide immigration assistance. He also urged the public to report any groups that are using fake MARA certificates to operate.

Lastly, Bowen reiterated that people who fall victim of these scammers must immediately coordinate with the DIAC's operatives. He said that all of the department's hotlines are open 24/7 to receive complaints. He added that complainants can also lodge their concerns online and the DIAC will immediately act on it.

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