Photocopying your passport for a visa...

[Barney Trubble]

...is this a good idea and it it necessary?

 

I am a tad concerned that a friend of mine has just asked me to photocopy all the pages in his passport, along with his birth certificate so that he can send them to his lady in Thailand. She has said that it's a requirement of the visa that she obtains theses to verify her fiance, or to show that they know each other etc.

 

He has also sent copies of bank statements, phone bills etc, along with lots of money.

 

Now, we all know the dangers of Thai scammers but not everyone is that way but I am really concerned - should I be and does anyone know how the process works.

 

Also, she has been refused a visa three times now, she says on medical reasons, as she has had cancer, which was picked up at the TB check.

 

He's a good mate (No it's not for me really) but I have my suspicions about her. Please spare me the one liners, I just don't want to see a friend of over thirty years shafted.

 

I may be wrong and I am just being my cynical self but I just don't know what to think for the best.

 

He's being going to Thailand for well over twenty years now so knows the system well but he's never had a girl that he's wanted to bring back to the Uk, up until now. He's also very trusting and likes to see the good in people but I just want to make a few checks before I have a word with him.

 

I did do some IP checks a few months ago, from emails she sent to him, they also gave me cause for suspicion but I was advised from someone on here that the IP tracking on an hotmail account was not reliable.

 

Thoughts?

 

I know you'll all take the **** but just put yourself in my shoes and think what you would do for a good friend.

[Dr Who?]

This sounds like a scam to me mate, far to much information, the fruad squad are out and about.

[dubai_phil]

Sounds odd.

 

One of my employees ove here had a bee in her bonnet about living in the UK and so worked like mad to get qualified to the right level so she would qualify for the "Rare Breeds" or whateverthe special residency was in those days.

 

She had to jump through hoops send bank statements going back ages to show she could pay her own way etc. BUT the difference was that they were hers.

 

To get a normal UK visit visa you just need your own Invite letter, proof of financial ability to show a probability that you would return. To gain residence then your mate should be attending joint interviews at the Embassy/Consulate.

 

If he travels regularly then he should either get on the plane, OR contact Home Office - not hard to do an ID theft from all that info

[stu0x]

I can say with 100% certainty that your mate is being set up.

 

There is absolutely no reason for her to need *his* financial or ID documentation to obtain a visa in this country. At best, UKBA would require *him* to provide them (probably bringing them along to a face to face), but this would be much further down the line and obviously would be done over here.

 

Your mate probably won't listen to you, so tell him to call UKBA and ask them. They will tell him in no uncertain terms that he is being ripped off.

 

If he has already provided any of this stuff, he needs to act ASAP and get his passport cancelled/reissued, and change his bank accounts, otherwise he will be held partly liable to the fraud/ID theft related offences that are almost certainly about to follow.

 

Edit: If he has sent any ID information he also needs to tell the Police, better they know now than when they find cloned passports with his number/details on.

[Barney Trubble]

I can say with 100% certainty that your mate is being set up.

 

There is absolutely no reason for her to need *his* financial or ID documentation to obtain a visa in this country. At best, UKBA would require *him* to provide them (probably bringing them along to a face to face), but this would be much further down the line and obviously would be done over here.

 

Your mate probably won't listen to you, so tell him to call UKBA and ask them. They will tell him in no uncertain terms that he is being ripped off.

 

If he has already provided any of this stuff, he needs to act ASAP and get his passport cancelled/reissued, and change his bank accounts, otherwise he will be held partly liable to the fraud/ID theft related offences that are almost certainly about to follow.

 

Edit: If he has sent any ID information he also needs to tell the Police, better they know now than when they find cloned passports with his number/details on.

 

Thanks all.

 

Stux, any chance you could email me at dellboy07@yahoo.co.uk

 

I have contacted a friend in Thailand who has gave me some more information, which I would like to run past you (or anyone who has knowledge of these things).

 

Regards

[benjii]

PS. She may have a dickson too.