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Immigration Daily News Warning: Unregistered agent using RMA's details to lure and scam clientsAustralian Immigration Daily News
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Warning: Unregistered agent using RMA's details to lure and scam clients
Migration Alliance has become aware that RMA Anthony Ross' identity has been stolen and has been used by a person by the name of Vipul Pandit.
The attached documentation shows the length and depth of the scam by Mr Pandit who has conned one client, Gaurav Patel (permissions granted).
Anthony Ross has, since discovering the rort, reported this to the NSW police, DIBP and Office of the MARA. Interestingly whilst trying to report the fraud on the OMARA website over the weekend, the OMARA website was not working and unable to take the report despite repeated attempts to do so.
Anthony previously met Vipul many years ago and has not spoken to him for a couple of years. At no point did Anthony give permission for Vipul Pandit to assume his identity nor to use his MARN, name or address (or addresses for businesses which are known to Anthony). Anthony Ross and Vipul Pandit are not friends and are not colleagues.
Fraud and Integrity in Canberra have been most helpful. Their response time has been fast and their service and instant networking within the DIBP on this issue has been wonderful. Hats off to the DIBP for their assistance in this matter.
To follow is email communication between the applicant and Anthony Ross, who only now realises his name is being used as the migration agent acting in the matter:
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Aug 15 (3 days ago)
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Hi Gaurav
I am sorry to have to pass this information on to you. When was the last time you spoke with or communicated with Vipul?
Good luck,
Anthony Ross
From: gaurav patel [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
]
Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2014 3:24 PM
To: Anthony Ross
Cc: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thank you very much Anthony
Your information will help me to take immediate action
God bless you!
On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 10:51 PM, Anthony Ross <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > wrote:
Hi Gaurev
Thank you for your e-mail.
From what I can tell you are being scammed. I have copied in the last known email address of Vipul Pandit and perhaps he can explain this to you.
I have not been in contact with Vipul since July 2012 (two years ago). The email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is not my email address and I did not write that email to Vipul on the 3rd July 2014.
Please note that the information in relation to DIBP processing fees is incorrect, PQBS (Pre-qualified business sponsorship) does not exist anymore. The address that the documents have been sent to is CPA Australia (Chartered Practicing Accountants), a body that regulates the accounting body of Australia – not IT professionals. The information in all of the forms is incorrect.
I am very sorry to provide you with this information. This criminal conduct by Vipul is un-acceptable and you should report it to your police so that they can take action.
Best wishes
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anthony Ross
Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2014 at 1:39 PM
Subject: FW: 457 Visa Application for Gaurav Patel
To:XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
From: gaurav patel
Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2014 1:28 PM
To: Anthony Ross
Subject: Re: 457 Visa Application for Gaurav Patel
Anthony,
Thanks for the email
I think i have now clear picture
Vipul Pandit says he is in touch with you on phone since last few months & you are processing my application
let me attach some document which helps you to identify
Please verify this and let me know your views
I have attached all necessary documents, pdf files which are copy of 1196N form & CurierSenttoAus.jpg file which is courier sent to Australia and your name mentioned
Below Mail he sent me on 3rd July which request for $620, I paid to him.
=======================================================================
Hi, Gaurav,
I have received the email from the Anthony Ross from Australia he has given the conformation regarding the 457 visa Application if you wish to process further do let me know i will request him to proceed further at your earliest once you ready Please find the brake down in his email as bellow for your reference.
Regards
Vipul pandit
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
email is being used by Vipul Pandit (Anthony Ross' real email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
)
Date: Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 11:45 PM
Subject: ACS Approval
To:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hi Vipul,
We have received the Approval from the ACS Regarding Gaurav Patel.
We can proceed further for the 457 visa Application, before that we needs to Apply for the Nomination and the sponsorship for him.
Please find the brake down bellow for him, kindly conform once you ready.
I will forward the documents to you for which you need to get it done.
Sub Class : 457
Nomination : Au$ 235
P Q B S : Au$ 300
Justice of Pace : Au$ 85
Regard
Anthony Ross (fake email using Anthony's details)
On Thu, Aug 14, 2014 at 4:47 AM, Anthony Ross <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > wrote:
Hi Gaurav
Thank you for your e-mail.
However, I am uncertain that we have communicated previously. I have looked through my email log and client file and cannot recall you as a recent inquiry or a previous client. It has been two or three years since I last communicated with Vipul Pandit.
How can I help you and what are you trying to achieve?
Which company were you trying to send documents to? Who is CXC Global?
I would be delighted to be of assistance but please do provide me with more information.
Regards
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From: gaurav patel [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
]
Sent: Wednesday, 13 August 2014 5:37 PM
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: 457 Visa Application for Gaurav Patel
Hi Anthony,
My self Gaurav Patel, I am writing this email with reference from Vipul Pandit
As you have approved My ACS details and from your opinion I am eligible for 457 visa Application
So I sent courier along with my 1196 signed form, marksheets documents & experience documents from India to below address
Level 3, 111 Harrington St, Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone - 0061299933000
Sent Date - 12th July 2014
Also Vipul mentioned that 1196N (under CXCGlobal company nomination) & 1196 Forms are submitted on 4th August 2014 from yourside.
So when i can expect the outcome for the process, also i sent this email to verify all things related to process are correct
If you dont know or not aware about anything in what i written above then Please Reply
Thank you very much for your time
________________________________________________________________
The scam documents attached to the email sent by Gaurav to Anthony Ross associated with the visa application with Anthony's stolen ID:
CCF07082014_00001_20140818-014046_1.pdf
CCF07082014_00002_20140818-014104_1.pdf
CCF07082014_00003_20140818-014117_1.pdf
CCF07082014_00006_20140818-014133_1.pdf
Comments
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Monday, 18 August 2014Professional identity theft is becoming increasingly common. Last year in happened to me three times
It's extremely easy to do and I'm unconvinced that relevant authorities have the ability to deal with professional identity theft correctly or to work with industry to counter the increasing incidence of professional identity theft.
The worst instance of professional identity theft occurred as follows:
About 18 months ago it came to my attention that my name was being used on correspondence that stated that Business Sponsorships were approved. The manufacture of these documents was quite amateur HOWEVER I was being put forward as an employee of the Department who could "sort thing out".
It was a REAL struggle to get the then DIAC and even OMARA to look into this.
I actually called DIBP more than a year after formally receiving a file number from DIAC. But no one was able to tell me anything.
There seems to be a number of sub-sections in DIBP that may or may not communicate with each other, then there is the OMARA investigating things from an unlawful provision of migration assistance perspective.
It would be worthwhile if the industry could treat this as a developing and important issue.
Michael Jeremy -
Monday, 18 August 2014
This story is quite disturbing. Are there any ideas on how we can safeguard against this type of activity?
One of our workers has had his email identity stolen by a man in Nigeria. This man is trying to sell visas under our business and this workers name as well. -
Monday, 18 August 2014
Further to this blog and the one about the DIPB RMA Black List - all of the parts are coming together, aren't they? - overseas unregistered migration practices, overaseas-based scams utilisting unsuspecting RMAs' identies together with departmental staff who make a judgement call about RMAS in OZ but not necessarily from overseas (do o/post have such lists, I wonder...). very unsettlling for the industry - as if we didn't have anything else to observe: doing the best we can for our clients, by the Code, by the tax office, by our creditors, for ourselves - and yet, one more thing to think about - who may be lodging applications in our name without us knowing.
Identity fraud is not new and as an industry, we have to deal with this by being vigilant without a lot of resource or knowhow nor with the ability to effectively deal with it since we may not necessarily be privy to third party cases where our names and reputations are being used, until a complaint's lodged or worse - our name appears in the media but if no complaint is lodged we may be caught unaware after a considerable period of time.
I agree with Julie that it's quite disturbing - I wonder how her issue with her worker was dealt with? more info, without breaching privacy, would be reassuring (or maybe not?) but it's worth knowing.
And as Jeremy says, this is an important issue for the industry which requires our attention and action - how and in what shape or form, I am not sure.
It sounds as if this happens with some frequency and responses are poor, or hit-and-miss, as they may be easily dismissed by the power that be becauase it's not a 'tanglible' event, other than when it blows up.
A consultation amongst MA's membership and some strategic conversations is in order, I would think. Waiting for the definitive authorities to do something about this doesn't sound like an effective course of action on its own if the first we hear of it, is through the newspaper or through a personal contact. If we are not aware of scams being committed in our name, then how do we deal with it? ONE of the many $65k questions we must crack as an Industry, I suspect.
Bea Leoncini -
Friday, 12 September 2014
Hi....
Vipul Pandit is now in Ahmedabad , India. -
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Vipul pandit is in Surat.
Immigration blog
I had the exact same thing happen to me. I reported it to:
ATO
MARA
NSW Police
Federal police
The exact words from the Federal Police "you are a woman that can't handle competition. We can't help you".
Unforunately, nothing will be done.