Paying "Travel / Visa Agents" - Beware!

Nairalanders, I just thought I'd post this up here for you guys to make up your minds.

For the past few months, there have been all sorts of "agents" springing up here with alarming regularity.
They range from those who profess to be able to get you cheap tickets, invitation letters, bank statements, credit cards, voluntary work abroad, VISA's, accommodation etc.

Now, the ALL the above can be done by yourself, without the need for an "agent" to fleece you of your hard earned.

1) Cheap tickets: You can Google these yourself, there's a wide array of reputable Travel Agents to choose from online, with secure payment options / means.

2) Invitation letters: Now, there's no such thing as an "agent" to get you these, this is something you get from whoever you're going to stay with in your destination country, or via a legitimate sponsor. Any "agent" professing to get you this is a thief.

3) Bank statements: Again, no "agents" are required to obtain these - if you're legitimate in your intentions, your sponsor, or company you work for may be able to provide this, and if you have your own bank statement, it's a help.

4) Credit cards: I believe pre-loaded credit cards are available in Nigeria, and don't require credit checks. These are available to all aged 16 and above, and are not hard to obtain. "Agents" offering to get these on your behalf, hmm. Need I say more?

5) Voluntary work abroad: These are usually advertised online, or in your local papers. Voluntary work can also be as a result of an agreement between your employer, and a foreign company, in such cases, things will be easier, as they'll verify you, and act as your sponsor. There are usually status restrictions, like visa, educational or others attached, that NO "agent" can get round. Do your homework, and keep your money where it belongs - in your wallet / purse!

6) VISA!!: Obtaining a visa is not down to an "agent", but more to do with you the applicant. There are certain criteria that are looked at, and you could pay an "agent" as much as you like, it won't make the acquisition of a visa any closer, or easier. Ask yourself, if these "agents" were that good, what are they doing in some cyber cafe sending out all manner of adverts / promises they can't keep! They're fraudulent! If visa's grew on trees, they would be out of the country too, and wouldn't feed on the misery of trusting, desperate Africans.

7) Accommodation: Again, accommodation is something you can sort out yourself, as long as you're not the lazy type. These "agents" that promise the earth, are no more than middle men / touts, who obviously do their homework, by scouring the 'net, then "selling" hastily put together packages. Information is free, in this day and age of internet. Don't get caught out!!

Scammers "agents" are easy to spot:

They usually have unregistered pre-pay cellphones. An employee working for a genuine travel Agency will be able to supply a fixed landline number, physical address, and a dedicated email address. As part of your research, if you do choose to use an intermediary to obtain tickets, please verify the address given - it could well be a real business premises, on the other hand, it could be someone's room in a seedy area of *****. Free email addresses like "Yahoo!", "Gmail", "MSN", "Hotmail" etc should be viewed with initial suspicion. These email addresses can be changed at the drop of a hat, same goes for pre-paid cellphone numbers.

"Agents" who have multiple cellphone numbers, often 3 or 4 should be given a wide berth. Once your money's been taken, these numbers suddenly become mysteriously "unavailable". 

Some may try to appease your concerns by saying "no money up front, all we need is a copy of the bio-data page of your passport, bank statement, birth certificate etc. It's a ruse! You could lose more than what's in your bank account - your identity. 

Most "agents" on here tend to have a loyal "satisfied customer", always trailing them on the boards, saying how happy they are with the service they received. These "satisfied customers" are none other than the "agents" themselves! Typically, they're so brain-dead, they often forget to sign out, and sign back in with their "other self", and begin to contradict themselves!  Often, the "satisfied customer" will tell the "agent" to call him to discuss a visa for his "sister", or to extend the "visa you helped me get", and leave a cellphone number, that the "agent" has used on here previously! 

It's so funny to see, but no laughing matter for those that do get caught, and lose their money. 

If something's too good to be true, it generally is! Nigerians are generally very sharp and streetwise, why then are they often victims of fraudulent "agents"? The answer lies in them - too lazy to do their own research, or too desperate to get out of Nigeria, to enter another country, even if it was Afghanistan or Iraq.

Seun / moderator - is it possible to make this a sticky? I think it'll be of great benefit to some of our trusting brothers and sisters. And, it'll also go a long way to discouraging the ever present predators.

DeltaVAG^TM

Well said.

Thanks for the info.

Kindly report any suspicious post to d moderators so that they can be taken down. Thanks

@poster, thats true!

     The Bank phb recruitment blog is " eservices.bankphb.com/recruiter/" It ends on the 9th of febuary 2009.

9ja Visa agents are 419.

Good one !

nice one.

Nairalanders be alert

^^^ Naomi, you're a nutter! 

Start a fresh thread, rather than advertise within this one - you'll stand a better chance of success that way.

Please don't make excuses for those that commit fraud - citing poverty and economic hardship as a valid reason to rip other honest folk off is wrong.
And no, I've never been defrauded "I too get open eye to fall mugu o!"    Abi you tink say crase don catch me, eh? 

DeltaVAG^TM

Well Said,

Hahahaha! 

Now that's funny. 

DeltaVAG^TM

This comment is in response to the topic posted by Siena paying Travel/Visa Agents.
Ladies and Gents,
In as much as I support the writer of the mentioned topic on the need to take precaution in seeking assistance in acquiring travelling visas,it surprise you to know that the successfull acquisition of visas is 85percent guaranteed while that of self efforts is merely 15percent.
It is not really about  laziness or ones inability to do proper research. It is all about cash.If you dont have it forget about going abroad.Do you know that even the visa officer at our various embassies are dubious and excessively uncooperative to individuals seeking to obtain visas by themselves especially if you are a first-time traveller ? Do you know that Nigerians with genuine intentions are the worst victims of this organised oppression?
Let me tell you guys that if a Nigerian who is travelling for the first time,does not have 5million naira in his account backed with a running bank statement of at least six months ,have a relative who is legally resident in the intended place of visit  or pay up all his school and accomodation fees (in case of a school),it is difficult to secure a visa? Forget about admission letters!
What saddens me most is, contrary to Siena,most of these visa officers have super-coded agents who they speedily attend to their clients requests as against individual applicants.Hence how do you explain situations where an applicant who did not leave his house securing a visa but we have thousands of hungry -looking naijas sleeping in various embassies waiting for visas.
My people Nigeria is a complicated country! We should seek prayers in whatever we do.It takes devine intervention for an applicatant to personally secure a visa wether the visa conditions are met or not.I am talking out of practical exprience.I sought for visa for 11years using all  personal efforts and constant research but I later discovered that the much criticied travelling agents are ,still in most cases,the reliable ones.
If you dont have the cash,my advice for you is stay in naija and carve a niche for yourself and never forget that in this life your success is a function of three things:your brains,your hands and your DESTINY.
Thanks
Elvis
elvisu2001@yahoo.com

Very unlikely they're fakes, if they have at least a physical shop, or even just an online only, with fixed landlines, and are registered as a legitimate business.
It's the forum cruisers you have to be wary of.

DeltaVAG^TM

nice information siena,they are agent that are 419 even i will call them ole but not all some are real i mean good and not 419.let me tell you something you have your own specialty why others have there own too but what you are not good in it try give it to people that can do it or learn how to do it your self.it is an advice.i am an agent i can get your visa to any country and i have e-books that can teach you on how to get your visa your self