Fake Immigration Scams on Phone Calls
Scammers call posing as immigration officers, alleging status problems or imminent deportation, to pressure victims into immediate payments over the phone.
Part of: Fake Immigration Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
A phone call carries an authority that text struggles to match. A live 'immigration officer' speaking with practised urgency, sometimes against background noise made to sound like an office, can convince a worried visa holder that a real crisis is unfolding on the line.
Genuine immigration departments do not demand fees or threaten deportation through cold calls. Scammers favour the phone because spoofing tools can fake an official caller ID, and a real-time conversation lets them control the pace, answer objections, and apply relentless pressure.
How this scam works on Phone calls
The caller states that your visa or residency is at risk — an unpaid fee, a flagged record, an order awaiting enforcement — and that the matter must be settled immediately to avoid detention or removal.
Using scripted authority, they walk you toward paying a 'fine' or 'reinstatement fee' by transfer, voucher, or card, and may ask you to confirm passport and identity details 'for the file'. The caller ID is often spoofed to display an official-looking number.
They insist you stay on the line and tell no one, knowing that a pause to check with the real department or a trusted person would end the scheme.
Common red flags
- A caller claims to be an immigration officer handling a problem with your status
- You are threatened with deportation or detention unless you pay now
- Payment is demanded over the phone by transfer, voucher, or card
- You are asked to confirm passport and identity details on the call
- The caller ID appears official but the demand is unusual
- You are told to stay on the line and not contact anyone
How to protect yourself
- Hang up on any call demanding immigration fees or threatening deportation
- Know that caller ID can be spoofed and is not proof of who is calling
- Call the immigration authority back on a number from its official website
- Never pay fees or confirm identity details on an unsolicited call
- Refuse instructions to stay on the line or keep the matter secret
- Seek help from a registered immigration adviser if you are worried
How to report it
- Report the call to your national immigration authority's fraud line
- File a report with your country's fraud or cybercrime reporting centre
- Note the number and time, and report nuisance calls to your phone provider
Frequently asked questions
The caller ID showed an official immigration number — can I trust it?
No. Caller ID is easily spoofed to display any number, including official ones. Hang up and call the department back on a number you find on its official website to confirm whether the call was genuine.