Migrants are being warned to watch out for scammers pretending to be from the Department of Immigration, threatening deportation and demanding money.
Since March, 300 reports have been made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), with more than $150,000 reported lost.
“The scammers target migrants and temporary visa holders, claiming there are problems with their immigration paperwork or visa status and they need to pay a fee to correct the problem and avoid deportation,” said ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard.
“These scammers often glean personal information from social media, making the demands seem more legitimate.”
Ms Rickard added that of late, the scams have been going one step further to threatening the arrest of loved ones, or claiming they have already been arrested or detained, following which they demand payment through wire transfers or iTunes gift cards.
“Scammers may try to pressure you by calling incessantly and harassing you, even threatening to send the police to your house. Simply hang up and do not respond. If you give your money to a scammer, you will never see it again,” she warned.
“The Department of Immigration and Border Protection will never ask for wire transfers or iTunes cards as a payment option.”
If in doubt, the ACCC recommends looking up the government department or organisation yourself in the phone book or online and to phone or email them, instead of using any contact details provided by the caller.
Report any scams to the ACCC via the Scamwatch ‘report a scam’ page or by calling 1300 795 995.