An increasing number of Indians from India are becoming victims of fake job offers, money transfer scams and other fraudulent deals.
Auckland City District Police Detective Greg Brand told Indian Newslink that migrant workers, students and those on visit visas from India should be cautious of people making offers that appear too good to be true and those seeking bank accounts for money transfers and remittances.
“We have recently received a large number of complaints from members of the Indian community stating that they had become victims of false advertisements appearing in popular websites such as ‘Trade Me’ and ‘Seek.’ We wish to warn people against responding to such job offers, since most of them are proving to be false and misleading. Those applying for such jobs could place themselves in jeopardy,” he said at a meeting in our offices.
False contacts
Indian Newslink has received complaints from Indians who are in New Zealand on ‘Job Search Visas,’ ‘Work to Residence Visas,’ Student Visas and other types of conditional permits. These complaints have been about smooth-talking education providers, misleading immigration advisers and managers in some companies, who provide employment contracts supposedly from reputed companies.
“Scammers are targeting people offering high weekly salaries. The potential victims are contacted through email by persons portraying that they are representatives of companies and offer employment. This employment offer is followed up with seemingly legitimate employment contracts. As a part of the scam, fraudsters have even created web sites that appear legitimate,” Mr Brand said.
Misleading agents
Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust Chairman Jeet Suchdev, who was also present at the meeting, said that he had assisted a number of victims to gain legal status, working with the concerned authorities.
“A majority of these victims are students from India. They are often given a false picture about New Zealand’s employment market. Some education agents also misinform young applicants in India that they need not pursue their higher studies and that they would be given high-salary jobs on arrival. The reality is however different,” he said.
Mr Suchdev said that his Trust conducts regular networking sessions for international students in Auckland to apprise them of their rights, responsibilities and obligations and what they can and cannot do on student visas.
“Many arrive here after mortgaging their jewellery or property in India and hence become disparate and vulnerable. They become an easy prey for unscrupulous people. Our Trust has rescued some women who were forced to become sex workers. None of them want to return to their home country without substantial savings to not only repay their debts but also to secure their future,” he said.
International links
According to Mr Brand, some Indians also become links to an international chain of drug and arms traffickers, money launderers and other criminals.
“We are investigating complaints of some youngsters involved in such criminal activities. Typically, victims are asked to supply their bank account details to those offering jobs. They receive money into their accounts, which they are forced to withdraw and send through money transfer companies to a number of countries, notably Ukraine and Africa. The money deposited into the victims accounts are generally obtained by fraudsters illegally accessing a third person’s bank account. When banks reverse the amount transferred, the scammed victims are left with overdrafts that they cannot repay. They become liable for action by banks and even the Police since accepting unauthorised payments is a punishable crime,” he said.
He said that the key message was, “Do not use a money remittance agent to send money to someone you do not know; it is almost certainly a scam,” he said.
Illegal accounts
According to Mr Brand, some people are allowing third persons to use their bank accounts to deposit, withdraw and transfer money.
“The account holder supplies his or her bank account, cash flow card and Pin Number to allow a third party to operate their account. This is contrary to the terms and conditions of their bank agreement.
“Illegal deposits are made into the bank account of the victim and this money is withdrawn by the third person or by the account holder. This makes the account holder complicit in obtaining illegal money. Banks will hold the account holder responsible for any debt incurred,” he said.
He said that the Police were keen to prevent crimes from occurring.
“Do not let anyone use your bank account to deposit money as there is a chance that the money was received illegally and you could be criminally and civilly liable for any mishap or shortfall,” he said.
Indian Newslink will publish details of other scams in an ensuing edition.
