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Web scam targets refugees
15/11/2005 17:47 - (SA)
Geneva - The United Nations refugee agency has warned against internet scams that charge for resettlement and employment opportunities in Europe and North America.
"Cyber criminals have been infiltrating chat rooms and other on-line groups to swindle poor people from Africa, Asia, and Latin America who are looking for a chance to emigrate to an industrial country," said Jennifer Pagonis, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to Pagonis, people are being lured to phoney websites which claim affiliation to the UN. They deposit between US$100 to US$1&nbps;000 (between R680 and R6&nbps;800) for a resettlement service, and never hear from the "UN representative" again.
"The UNHCR never charges refugees for resettlement or any other services," said Pagonis.
"Resettlement to a third country is used by the UNHCR, usually for particularly vulnerable refugee cases. Any websites claiming to be associated with UNHCR and charging for resettlement services are fraudulent."
Pagonis is unsure how many such sites exist and how much money is being spent on sham resettlement programmes, but she said a number of sites have been shut down since the UNHCR became aware of these scams earlier this year.
"However, as soon as a site is closed, it tends to pop up again somewhere else," said Pagonis.
The UNHCR has won two Nobel peace prizes, and resettles about 40&nbps;000 people every year. It has 6&nbps;000 employees, many working in remote and hostile areas around the world.
- AP
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