The Crime and Intelligence Command’s Financial and Cyber Crime Group has charged a man in relation to a major visa fraud investigation.
The man was arrested February 17 in Sydney after Queensland Police, with assistance from New South Wales Police, executed a search warrant on a Harris Park address.
Police say that electronic devices and documentation were seized during the search.
“Operation Romeo Avid was launched in 2017 after police received multiple complaints relating to two Queensland-based migration services — Global Skills and Business Services (Global Skills) and Specialised Resources Pty Ltd (Specialised Resources) — defrauding customers between April 1 2015 and November 17 2017,” read a part of Police media statement.
Police will allege in court that the man was the director of these two companies at the time and targeted migrant visa holders in Queensland, offering to find them sponsored jobs as a pathway to permanent residency.
Police will further allege he charged significant fees to victims – between $25,000 and $45,000 each – for services he did not deliver. To date 23 victims have made complaints to police, with the value of the fraud calculated at $799,000.
SBS Punjabi had previously spoken to at least three victims of Indian-origin who alleged that they lost their "hard-earned money" to the Global Skills and Business Services (Global Skills) and Specialised Resources Pty Ltd (Specialised Resources).
After the company's director was arrested on Thursday, one of the victims said he was glad that the police were investigating the matter.
"I understand that this will be a long-drawn legal battle, but I am optimistic that justice will prevail in the end. I am also among the long list of victims who have lost our hard-earned savings. We've pinned our hopes on the judiciary now," he said.
In a media statement issued today, Detective Acting Inspector Adam Bennett of the Financial and Cyber Crime Group said the nature of the alleged offending was concerning.
Source: Supplied by Danyal Syed
“Investigations have identified these jobs did not exist as advertised, if at all. It will be alleged the offender took several measures, including falsifying documents and operating from a professional city office, to legitimise his fraudulent activity to victims," he said.
“When it comes to financial and legal matters, it is important to take a step back and seek independent advice, with information on migration and registered migration agents available on the Australian Border Force website."
