The Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos state has disclosed that it has received over 1,185 applicants with fake documents from the Italian Embassy, and has charged many of them to court.
The disclosure was made by the public relations officer of the SFU, Lawal Addu, Guardian reports. Audu stated that the embassies which partner with the SFU are interested in issuing visas to credible Nigerians and have zero tolerance for forgery.
He stated: “The American consulate general for instance; every day we receive complaints of fake visa applicants. But the most disturbing is the fake visas, fake stamps, both arrival and departure stamps.
“Most of these applicants appear at the consulate with passports covered with fake travel history.”
Audu lamented over the fact that Nigerians who are desperate to travel abroad would rather go to a fake vendor who might eventually defraud them.
He said: “These visa vendors are everywhere. They will tell prospective customers or clients that they had assisted over hundred people to get the American visa. They will promise to help.
“And because these visa seekers are vulnerable or don’t care to know how they can apply for visa, they fall prey.
“If you want to know how to apply for visas, just go to the internet. You don’t need to pay anyone or give money to anyone.
“But rather, many Nigerians prefer to give money to touts, visa agents and visa vendors. Nobody is appointed to be a visa vendor by any embassy or high commission.”
Previously the Police Special Fraud Unit expressed concern over the increasing number of Nigerians allegedly involved in using fake documents to seek for Italian visa.
Spokesman of the unit, ASP Lawal Audu noted that before now, Canada used to complain of such high numbers of fake documents, adding that attention had shifted to Italy now.
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