Fake Immigration Scams via Bank Transfer
Scammers posing as immigration lawyers or agents collect bank transfer fees for fabricated visa applications, status adjustments, or deportation bonds.
Part of: Fake Immigration Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Domestic bank transfers used in immigration scams present a convincing veneer of professionalism. A scammer who provides a business bank account number and sort code appears to operate a legitimate law firm or agency — in contrast to gift card demands, which even unsophisticated victims may recognise as suspicious.
For victims with genuine immigration concerns who are unfamiliar with how official processes work, transferring funds to what appears to be a solicitor's client account feels like a normal step in the legal process.
How this scam works on bank transfer
A victim contacts what appears to be an immigration law firm, found through a social media advertisement or a community recommendation. After an initial consultation, the 'solicitor' requests a bank transfer for filing fees, legal representation, or an expedited processing charge. The client account details provided belong to the scammer.
In follow-up billing, the victim receives formal-looking invoices for additional services: correspondence fees, tribunal preparation charges, or appeals costs. Each invoice requests a new bank transfer.
When the victim tries to contact the firm after paying, phone numbers are disconnected and the office address is fictional or belongs to a legitimate business with no knowledge of the fraudulent firm.
Common red flags
- Immigration firm cannot be verified on your country's legal services or immigration advice register
- Bank account provided is personal rather than a verifiable solicitor's client account
- Fees are requested before any written engagement agreement or client care letter is provided
- Solicitor discourages you from seeking a second opinion or verification
- New invoice fees arrive faster than any genuine legal work could be progressing
- Office address leads to a virtual office or the premises of an unrelated business
How to protect yourself
- Verify any immigration lawyer on your country's official register before transferring any fee
- Request a client care letter setting out all fees before making any payment
- In the UK, check the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner register for accredited advisers
- Never transfer fees without receiving a signed written engagement letter first
- Seek referrals to accredited practitioners through community legal organisations rather than advertisements
- Report unregistered advisers to the relevant regulatory body so they can be investigated
How to report it
- Report to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (UK) or your equivalent regulator
- File with the FTC or your national consumer protection authority
- Contact your bank to report the fraudulent account details
Frequently asked questions
The 'solicitor' sent formal invoices from a business bank account. Doesn't that look legitimate?
Not necessarily — anyone can open a business bank account and generate professional-looking invoices, so this alone doesn't confirm the firm is a real, regulated law practice. Verify the firm and the individual adviser on your country's official legal or immigration services register.
How do I check if the office address they gave me is real?
Search the address independently, through a map service, business directory, or by calling ahead, to confirm it's an actual functioning office rather than a virtual mailing address. A legitimate firm won't object to you verifying their premises.
Can I dispute bank transfers made to a fake immigration firm?
Contact your bank to report the fraudulent account details as soon as possible; options depend on how the transfer was made and how quickly it's reported, so ask your bank directly. Also report the firm to your relevant regulatory body so the account can be investigated.
What credentials should a legitimate immigration adviser have?
In the UK, only solicitors, barristers, and OISC-regulated advisers can charge for immigration advice. In the US, only licensed attorneys or accredited representatives may charge fees for immigration services. Anyone else charging for immigration advice is operating illegally.