A RECENT FRAUD has seen customers of Ireland’s immigration service being called by people claiming to be from the Department of Justice and asking for a payment to prevent immediate deportation.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) is responsible for administering the functions of the Justice Department in relation to asylum, immigration and citizenship matters.

Customers of INIS are being called by a person purporting to be from the immigration service. The caller then tells the person that they’re the subject of a Deportation Order from the authorities in their country of origin and that they face deportation that day.

They are then told that INIS is acting on behalf of their own government to recoup an administration payment which will prevent their immediate deportation.

The caller then asks for the payment to be made to an account in the person’s country of origin. However, the caller ID number that displays is a real INIS number and the caller directs people to the website where the number appears to be legitimate.

In a notice to its customers, INIS stated:

This is an attempted fraud. INIS does not and will not contact applicants by telephone in relation to any such payments to accounts abroad. INIS does not under any circumstances request payment for its services over the telephone.

“Furthermore, any persons facing deportation from the State will have been involved in a detailed process and would be notified in writing by registered post in advance of any planned deportation.

“Customers are asked to be vigilant. Do not give details of your immigration application or status to telephone callers unless you are sure who they are. If someone demands payment of any monies, contact INIS or An Garda Síochána immediately.”