Fake Passport Seizure Threat Scams in Australia
How scammers impersonating Australian immigration or customs officials threaten visa holders and international students with passport seizure and deportation to extort payment.
Part of: Fake Passport Seizure Threat Scam
Last reviewed: 14 July 2026
Australia's large international student and skilled-visa population makes it a frequent target for passport seizure threat scams, which prey specifically on the fear of visa cancellation and deportation that many temporary visa holders carry. A caller claiming to represent the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Border Force, or Australian Federal Police tells the victim their passport has been flagged for seizure due to alleged criminal activity, immigration fraud, or an unpaid fine.
Australia's consumer watchdog, the ACCC, and its Scamwatch service have repeatedly warned about this exact pattern targeting international students and temporary visa holders, since the threat of deportation carries a uniquely high level of fear for people whose ability to remain in the country depends on their visa status.
How this scam works on Australia
The scam typically starts with an unexpected phone call, sometimes from a spoofed number resembling a genuine Australian government line, claiming the victim's passport or visa has been linked to a serious offence such as money laundering or document fraud. The caller states the passport will be seized and the victim deported unless immediate action is taken.
The victim is instructed to pay a 'processing fee,' 'bond,' or 'fine' via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to prevent the seizure, and is often told to stay on the phone continuously and not contact anyone else, including their university, migration agent, or family, while the payment is arranged. Some versions escalate to a video call showing a person in a uniform-style outfit to add visual credibility.
Because many international students and temporary visa holders are unfamiliar with exactly how Australian immigration enforcement actually operates, and may fear that any delay or pushback could jeopardize their visa status, the threat of passport seizure is often enough to override their usual caution about wiring money to a stranger.
Common red flags
- An unsolicited caller claims to be from the Department of Home Affairs, Border Force, or AFP and threatens passport seizure
- You are told to pay a 'processing fee,' 'bond,' or fine immediately to avoid deportation
- The caller instructs you to stay on the phone continuously and not contact your university, migration agent, or family
- Payment is requested via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency rather than an official government payment channel
- Caller ID resembles a government number but the request itself does not match any known official immigration process
- You receive escalating threats or urgency designed to prevent you from verifying the claim independently
How to protect yourself
- Hang up and contact the Department of Home Affairs directly using the number listed on homeaffairs.gov.au, not one the caller provided
- Never pay a fee, fine, or bond over the phone to prevent a passport seizure — this is not how genuine Australian immigration enforcement works
- Contact your university's international student support office or a registered migration agent to verify any claim about your visa status
- Do not isolate yourself as instructed — speak to a trusted friend, family member, or advisor immediately if you receive this kind of call
- Be skeptical of any request for gift cards or cryptocurrency, which are not used by genuine Australian government agencies
- Report the call to Scamwatch even if you did not lose money, to help track and warn others about the scheme
How to report it
- Report to Scamwatch, run by the ACCC, at scamwatch.gov.au
- Report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre via cyber.gov.au/report
- Contact the Department of Home Affairs directly to verify your visa status and report the impersonation
- Contact your bank immediately if you sent a payment, to ask about a transfer recall or fraud hold
Frequently asked questions
Does Australian immigration ever call to demand payment to prevent passport seizure?
No. Genuine immigration enforcement in Australia follows formal legal processes involving written notices and, where relevant, direct engagement with your migration agent or legal representative — not unsolicited phone calls demanding immediate payment to avoid passport seizure or deportation.
I'm on a student visa and got this call — could my visa really be at risk if I don't pay?
No — a phone call demanding payment to prevent visa cancellation or passport seizure is not a genuine immigration process, regardless of your visa type. Contact your university's international student support office or the Department of Home Affairs directly to verify your actual visa status, which is unaffected by this kind of scam call.
Can I get my money back if I already paid to prevent a fake passport seizure?
Recovery may depend on the payment method and timing — contact your bank immediately to ask about a transfer recall, and report the scam to Scamwatch and, if you sent funds overseas, be aware that international transfers are often harder to recover than domestic ones.
How do I verify if a call claiming to be from Home Affairs or Border Force is genuine?
Hang up and call the Department of Home Affairs directly using the number listed on homeaffairs.gov.au. Genuine government communication does not rely on you calling back a number the original caller provided.