Australian consumer watchdog has turned its sights on fake online reviews which it says is misleading consumers and has issued a fine of $6600 to at least one business.

The ACCC has stepped up its investigations on fake online reviews, saying that it is a breach of the Australian Consumer Code to post false testimonials and reviews.

People rely on claims by websites in their decision-making and thus the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is becoming increasingly concerned they may be misled by fake reviews, chairman Rod Sims told Fairfax Media.

''Our concern is that people trust online websites more than they do company advertising or more than they do reading the newspaper. And yet if those things are not reliable … then that is both unfair to the consumer … and it is unfair to competitors.'' said Mr Sims.

It has been reported that in 2011, removalist company Citymove Pty Ltd paid a $6600 infringement notice after it admitted it published false consumer testimonials.

Revelations that Pakistani Cricketer Fawad Ahmed was granted a permanent visa despite DIBPs major concerns about his visa application is turning out to be a damning indictment of the ministerial intervention considerations.

Government briefing documents obtained by the ABC revealed that DIBP considered Ahmed’s case was ‘borderline” from the beginning and was worried it “may result in an adverse impact’ on other asylum seekers who apply through the normal channels.

It is reported that sources inside DIBP told the ABC that Ahmed received special treatment from both major political parties due to ongoing pressure from the cricket establishment.

Ahmed's claim for asylum was initially rejected by both the Immigration Department and Refugee Review Tribunal.

Despite DIBPs threatening tweets and press reports claiming DIBP is giving students 14 days to explain a course swap, a DIBP spokesperson maintains its letters to students are ‘advice letters’ which are part of an ‘education campaign’ and not formal notice that the department intends to cancel visas of course swappers.

DIBP has recently flagged concerns about students who enter Australia with streamlined visas for university study but switch after arrival to cheaper private colleges. The streamlined visa system with its lower standard of proof is generally restricted to universities and regarded as easier to obtain.

The department is now issuing veiled threats to cancel such visas where courses are swapped.

At the social medial level, DIBP is not mincing its words. The latest DIBP tweet has the wording: “A course swap could mean your student visa is cancelled”. But when queried by the media, a DIBP spokesperson, apparently explained that the letters now being sent out to students are part of an 'education campaign'.

The Australian’s Higher Education Section reports that DIBP has issued letters requiring students to provide an explanation in 14 days for the course swap. The letters assert that the students are in breach of a visa condition, but do not warn that a breach may be a basis for cancellation.

Nobody ever tells you how hard it is going to be when you first sign up to do the RMA course.  At first it seems like a very cool and perhaps prestigious way of earning a living.  Not only that but it seems like a living where helping others to achieve their dreams of a new life in a new country will also have an altruistic aspect to it.

Little does anyone know how hard it really is to be a registered migration agent.

Let me tell you a little bit about my suffering as an agent since 2001 so that somehow I might be able to comfort you in your time of grief.   I am not sure how to write this other than to list the various client issues, OMARA complaints and other such things I have been through.

DIBP is acting quickly to cancel dubious partner visas with already over 1000 partner visas cancelled, including permanent visas, over the last 3 years.

It has been estimated that over 30 per cent of marriages in Australia involve migrant spouses. And the numbers are increasing as visa regulations in other classes get stricter. This has led to greater scrutiny of both applicants and visa holders by DIBP.

Monash University migration lecturer, Dr Bob Birrell has reportedly said that the huge backlog of cases was putting enormous pressure on migration officials.

"They are literally swamped with the client load, it's very difficult to seriously evaluate whether the relationship is genuine and continuing," he said in an interview with the Herald Sun.