Allied Nations Target Scammers as UK, Canada and Australia Intensify Visa-Fraud Crackdown
In a sweeping diplomatic move aimed at curbing the growing menace of visa fraud, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have jointly launched an intensive, week-long public-awareness campaign in Ghana, aligning with the Global observance of International Fraud Awareness Week
The campaign, titled “Fighting Visa Fraud Together,” marks an unprecedented collaboration among the three High Commissions in Accra and is backed by UK Visas & Immigration. The initiative seeks to expose fraudulent Immigration Agents, protect genuine applicants, and dismantle networks extorting unsuspecting travellers.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Christian Rogg, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, revealed alarming statistics: in 2024 alone, 1,632 Ghanaian applicants attempted to secure UK visas using fraudulent documents—constituting roughly 4% of all Ghanaian visit-visa applications. Most of them received 10-year bans, a penalty he said underscores the seriousness of the offence.
Australian High Commissioner H.E. Berenice Owen-Jones urged Ghanaians to avoid shortcuts and unofficial channels, noting that fraudulent agents often leave victims financially drained and permanently barred from legitimate travel. “The safest visa is the one you apply for yourself through verified Government portals,” she said.
Canada’s High Commissioner, H.E. Myriam Montrat, reinforced her Country’s commitment to safe and orderly migration. She highlighted a growing trend in which scammers impersonate immigration officers, hack email accounts of applicants, or charge exorbitant fees for fake guarantees of success. “Canada welcomes genuine travellers, not manipulated applicants,” she said.
Throughout the week, the campaign has rolled out digital sensitisation materials, radio broadcasts, and Community outreach sessions warning the public about red flags such as guaranteed visas, forged bank statements, falsified test results, or inflated consultancy fees.
The initiative also connects with a wider Global effort: on November 17, 2025, New Zealand’s Immigration Department formally joined the anti-fraud alliance, linking its screening system with those of the other three nations to help detect cross-border deception more effectively.
While the latest phase of the campaign focuses on awareness rather than mass arrests, officials say intelligence gathered during the week will feed into upcoming enforcement actions targeting major fraud rings operating across West Africa. Insider sources within the diplomatic community hinted that coordinated crackdowns may follow early in 2026 as investigations mature.
Migration analysts say the multilateral effort could reshape how countries combat document fraud, calling it one of the most ambitious cross-border visa integrity campaigns seen in recent years.
For now, the message from all three High Commissions remains clear: only official channels are safe, and fraudulent applications will be detected, no matter who prepares them.
