An international student in Canberra has allegedly been duped out of more than $42,000 while trying to get a permanent visa.
The bank-draining series of events allegedly began when the 34-year-old woman met a man in Canberra in 2021.
He allegedly promised that he could help her get a permanent Australian visa, known as the Sponsored Investor Visa.
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Between January and September of that year, the woman dealt with the 51-year-old man, and fake associates “created by him, to deceive and defraud her”, ACT Police said.
“The woman made 29 deposits to him totalling more than $42,000.”
She went to police in December 2021 to report the incident.
An investigation was launched, but it was not until June last year that police executed a search warrant at the man’s Middleton Grange home in Western Sydney.
He was issued a summons in November 2024, but since then has failed to appear before court, police said.
The 51-year-old man was extradited to the ACT on Thursday.
He was charged with 29 counts of obtain property by deception and is set to face ACT Magistrates Court on Friday
ACT Police has warned visitors to Australia to “protect yourself from scams promising visas”.
“It is crucial to conduct thorough due diligence by verifying the credentials and legitimacy of immigration agents before engaging their services,”
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