The Australian Embassy in Vietnam, in partnership with international counterparts, is raising awareness of visa scams and fraudulent migration practices as part of International Fraud Awareness Week, 16–22 November 2025.
Visa fraud is a growing global issue, with criminals deceiving individuals through false visa guarantees, fake visa documents, and claims of being legitimate migration agents. These scams can result in significant financial loss, emotional distress, and long-term impacts on a person’s ability to travel.
Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms Gillian Bird said, “Australia is proud to stand with our international partners to combat visa fraud. The Fighting Visa Fraud campaign sends a clear message - if you are applying for a visa, always use trusted, official sources and beware of anyone promising shortcuts or guaranteed results.”
“Everyday here in Vietnam we see social media posts falsely promising visas to Australia for as much as VND 500.000.000 to VND1.500.000.000, playing on people’s emotions and desires. Do not fall prey to these scams as they will take your money, steal your identity and put you in dangerous situations. Remember, Only the Australian Government can issue visas,” said Ambassador Bird.
At the 2025 Five Country Ministerial (FCM) held in September, Ministers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States affirmed their shared commitment to protect the integrity of migration and border systems.
As part of this commitment a coordinated 4 country international campaign - ‘Fighting Visa Fraud’ - aimed at protecting migrants and strengthening global border integrity is being launched this week. While the United States is unable to participate in this year’s launch, it remains supportive of the initiative.
The Fighting Visa Fraud campaign demonstrates the commitment of FCM partners to combat visa scams collaboratively and raise public awareness.
International Fraud Awareness Week is a global event encouraging governments, businesses, and community organisations to work together to reduce the impact of fraud through education and awareness.
Educating visa applicants
Aligned messages delivered by participating countries will:
- Educate visa applicants about the risks and tactics used by fraudulent facilitators;
- Reduce the global scale and impact of visa fraud; and
- Encourage safe practices when engaging with visa and migration services.
The campaign will continue into 2026, particularly during peak visa application periods, with tailored messages developed to address local challenges and encourage behaviour change.
Stay informed and stay safe
It’s extremely likely that scam agents are operating in your community, pretending to be legitimate migration professionals and providing illegal migration advice.
While we continue to target these criminals, we need your help to spread awareness within your community about the dangers of engaging with scam agents. We encourage you to share the following advice with your networks.
Visa applicants are encouraged to visit Department of Home Affairs to learn how to recognise and report visa scams. And remember that the Australian Government never requests payments through social media or unofficial websites.
-ENDS-
Media contact
Ms Nguyen Le Trang, Senior Communications Officer
Tel: +84 24 3774 0216
Email: trangle.nguyen @dfat.gov.au