A 34-year-old international student in Canberra has allegedly been defrauded of more than $42,000 while attempting to secure a permanent Australian visa, in what police have described as a sophisticated scam.
The alleged fraud began in January 2021 when the student met a 51-year-old man from Western Sydney. The man reportedly offered to help her obtain a Sponsored Investor Visa, a pathway that allows foreign nationals to gain permanent residency in Australia by making significant investments.
It is reported that over the following nine months, the woman engaged with the man and a network of fake associates he created to deceive her. During this period, she made 29 deposits to the man, amounting to more than $42,000, according to ACT Police.
The woman became suspicious and reported the matter to the police in December 2021, prompting an investigation into the alleged visa scam.
Detectives later executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in Middleton Grange, Western Sydney, in June 2024. He was subsequently issued a summons in November 2024 but failed to appear in court.
On Thursday, 18 September 2025, ACT Policing’s Major Crime Squad extradited the 51-year-old man to the ACT. He has been charged with 29 counts of obtaining property by deception and appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday.
ACT Police have issued a warning to international visitors and those seeking visas to exercise caution. “It is crucial to conduct thorough due diligence by verifying the credentials and legitimacy of immigration agents before engaging their services,” a police spokesperson said.
Visa scams targeting international students and migrants have become increasingly common, with fraudsters exploiting the complexity of Australia’s immigration system.
Authorities urge prospective migrants to only deal with registered migration agents and to report suspicious activity immediately.
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