The United States (EU) Embassy in Mexico issued a Urgent warning for American visa applicants, alerting them to the increase in fraud attempts by individuals or companies posing as legitimate representatives of the US government.
This is the modus operandi of scammers:
Scammers use various methods to deceive visa applicants, including:
- Request excessive or unauthorized payments:
It should be noted that the American visa fee is fixed and is paid only through the official website of the Visa Fee Payment System (SGV).
Scammers may request additional payments for non-existent services or even create fake websites that imitate SGV.
- Offer appointments or expedite the application process:
Scammers may claim to have contacts within the Embassy and can schedule faster appointments or even guarantee visa approval in exchange for payment.
It is important to remember that the Embassy does not grant appointments or expedite processes in exchange for money.
- Request sensitive personal information:
Scammers may request sensitive personal information, such as banking details or passwords, under the false promise that it is necessary to complete the visa application process.
The Embassy will never request this type of information.
Follow these recommendations to avoid fraud:
To avoid being a victim of fraud, the US Embassy recommends the following to visa applicants:
- Carry out the entire procedure of the visa through the official website of the United States Embassy in Mexico.
- Pay the visa fee only through the SGV.
- Do not provide personal information sensitive to any person or company other than the US Embassy.
- Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.
- Report any attempted fraud on the US Embassy.
Check out these resources to report fraud:
If you have been a victim of fraud or have witnessed an attempted fraud, you can report it to the United States Embassy through the following channels:
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Phone: +52 (55) 4000-1976
It is important to be alert to fraud and take the necessary steps to protect yourself.
