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A shocking ₹70 lakh New Zealand Visa Scam has left people in Gandhinagar feeling betrayed and worried. Two men from Ahmedabad are accused of promising work visas to four friends, collecting large sums of money, and then handing over fake flight tickets and forged documents. The victims realised something was wrong only when the visas could not be verified with official authorities. For many families, a visa to work abroad is a hope for a better life — losing life savings to a scam hurts deeply and shakes trust in agents and promises.

How this New Zealand Visa Scam usually works

This kind of New Zealand Visa Scam follows a simple but cruel pattern. Scammers pose as visa consultants or overseas recruiters. They promise quick approvals and ask for large upfront payments for “processing fees,” “medical checks,” or “special permissions.” To seem real, they send forged offer letters, fake visa approval PDFs, and even falsified flight tickets through WhatsApp or email. When victims try to confirm the paperwork, the scammers delay, ask for more money, or disappear. Several similar cases have been reported in Gujarat where people lost lakhs to fake visa agents.

What happened in Gandhinagar — clear facts

Victims in the Gandhinagar case say they were shown convincing documents and were told to keep travel plans secret or to act fast. When they asked independent authorities to verify the visas, there was no record of those approvals. In some related cases in the region, fake e-visas and forged offer letters were used to trick people into paying more money. These patterns match other New Zealand visa fraud reports from Gujarat and neighbouring areas.

Why these scams succeed — human reasons

Scammers take advantage of hope, fear, and trust. Many people save for years to get a chance to work abroad. When a friendly agent promises a job and a quick visa, it feels like an answer to all those sacrifices. Often, victims are introduced to agents through friends, family, or social media posts that look real. Scammers also use pressure tactics: “Book now,” “Slots are limited,” or “This will be cancelled if you don’t pay today.” When someone is anxious and hopeful, it is much harder to stop and verify—this is where most mistakes happen.

How to verify a New Zealand visa — do this first

Before paying any money, verify visas using official channels:

• Immigration New Zealand (INZ) offers a Visa Verification Service where you can check whether a visa appears in official records. A real visa will show up there; a fake one will not. Use INZ’s Visa Verification Service to confirm any claimed approval.
  
• For travellers who need the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, use the official NZeTA site and app. Always Submit NZeTA Online through the official portal or app — do not follow a random agent’s link. For NZeTA details and application steps, check the official NZeTA pages and the NZeTA “check status” page.
  

(If an agent gives you a visa PDF, it is not proof. A genuine visa should be verifiable on the INZ systems.)

What to do immediately if you suspect a scam

If you think you are being scammed, act fast and calmly:

1. Stop sending money. Don’t transfer any more funds.
   
2. Collect evidence. Save all chats, receipts, screenshots, ticket PDFs, bank transfers, and phone numbers. These help police and banks.
   
3. Report online. File a complaint on India’s National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and keep the acknowledgement. This portal helps trace online fraud.
   
4. File an FIR. Take your evidence to local police and register a formal complaint.
   
5. Inform your bank. Tell your bank about suspicious transfers — sometimes banks can trace or block money.
   

Filing early helps investigators freeze accounts, trace transactions, and preserve digital proof. The cyber-complaint acknowledgement and FIR are important when you want the bank or courts to act quickly.

Red flags to watch for

Spotting a scam early can save you a lot:

• Any agent who guarantees a visa or promises it in a very short time (for example “visa in 7 days”).
  
• Requests for large cash payments or asking you to use untraceable methods.
  
• No office address, no proper contract, or no company registration details.
  
• Documents that cannot be verified on official Immigration New Zealand tools.
  
• Pressure to pay right away or to hide details from family.
  

How trustworthy agents behave

A genuine immigration consultant will:

• Encourage you to verify details independently on official sites.
  
• Use traceable payments and give proper receipts.
  
• Provide a clear contract, office address, and registration proof.
  
• Never force cash-only payments or insist you use secret channels.
  

If someone asks you to Submit NZeTA Online for them, ask for time and apply yourself on the official site. Doing it yourself removes a big part of the risk. For basic background on entry rules and what an NZeTA involves, see official NZeTA Visa Information on the INZ pages before you pay any agent.

Emotional and legal support

Losing money to a New Zealand Visa Scam can feel like losing trust in people you knew. Talk to family and local groups — emotional support helps you think clearly. For legal action, a lawyer can advise on civil recovery and criminal complaints. NGOs and local consumer help groups may also guide victims through filing complaints and collecting evidence.

Quick checklist (one page)

• Verify on INZ Visa Verification Service.
  
• Use official NZeTA site or app to apply — Submit NZeTA Online there.
  
• Save chats, receipts, and screenshots.
  
• File cybercrime complaint and get acknowledgement.
  
• Register an FIR and follow up with police.