The following is from Action Fraud and is about a scam where people of Asian descent are being targeted.

Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has been alerted to an Advanced Fee Scam whereby mainly persons of Asian descent are targeted by the suspects who cold call the victim, purporting to be from the Home Office UK Visa and Immigration department, and inform them that a case has been received by the department against the victim, sometimes with a request to deport.

A request is then made for money to be paid mainly by Ukash vouchers or MoneyGram. Occasionally, money is requested to be paid into a bank account.

Also on occasion, victims have been asked to provide bank account details.

A telephone number is given which is a genuine contact number for the Home Office to give the call a form of legitimacy.

The UK Visa and Immigration department would not make any request for payments in this form.

Protect yourself:

• Never respond to any such communication
• Any unsolicited contact followed by a request for an advance payment/fee is a good indication that someone is trying to defraud you.
• Do NOT pay any fees unless you are 100% of what you are paying for!!!
• Never, ever disclose your bank details.

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.