Australia warns Indian citizens over work visa scam

New Delhi, Sept 18 (UNI) Taking serious note of the visa scam involving a local unregistered migration agent in Karnataka, the Australian Government today urged the victims to report the matter to police.

Disclosing that it has received a number of phone calls from people seeking to verify their ''work permit visa'' for Australia, the country's High Commission has issued a warning asking the people to check the bonafides of their migration agent thoroughly before parting with any money.

It said that people could obtain valid Australian working visa through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

The fraudulent visas were purported to be temporary business(long stay) subclass 457 visas, which is for skilled jobs. If the jobs promised involved unskilled labour such as fruit-picking, clients should immediately become wary of those offering them, said the High Commission.

''If anyone suspect they may have been victim of this scam, they are urged to contact the Australian High Commission,'' a communication from the High Commission said.

UNI NAZ SY KP1932