The Police Special Fraud Unit, Lagos has expressed concern over increasing number of Nigerians allegedly involved in using fake documents to seek for Italian visa.

The spokesman of the unit, ASP Lawal Audu, on Sunday, said the Italian Embassy sends an average of 50 Nigerian Passports with fake documents to SFU monthly.

Audu noted that before now, Canada used to complain of such high numbers of fake documents, adding that attention had shifted to Italy now.

The Italian Embassy sent to SFU about 50 Nigerian Passports monthly with complaints of forged documents, and more than 15 persons to court for presenting fake document between January and May 2017.

Documents the applicants always forged include bank statements, health insurance certificates, invitation letters from Italy, letters of introduction and letter of employment from multinational companies.

“Italian Consulate normally checks all supporting document for any applicant. They are very meticulous in checking. “We have many passports with such complaints in large numbers.

“Once any embassy or high commission discovers irregularities in any application, they request the applicant to come to SFU for clearance; many never came to us.

‘‘After waiting for some time, we go out to look for such applicants.

“Many of the applicants used fake names and addresses. Even their mobile phone numbers are with fake names and addresses. Some phone numbers have babies names for registration,” Audu noted.

The image maker said that a major challenge faced by the unit was difficulty in tracking applicants due to lack of national data for identity. He further advised that members of the public should desist from patronising visa vendors as it can have adverse effect on their identities, which may affect them in future.

more at http://www.dailydigest.ng/50-nigerians-apply-italian-visa-fake-documents-monthly-sfu/