The Italian Police have identified two Bangladeshi men as the perpetrators of another Bangladeshi national, scamming the latter into paying thousands for an Italy entry visa.
According to the local media, the two suspects had convinced the victim to transfer €16,000 in several bank transfers, and in exchange, they would secure the victim a visa for subordinate work, Schengen.News reports.
Once the scammers received the money, the victim discovered that the documents needed for the visa had never been submitted and that the two perpetrators had become untraceable. The authorities reported the two Bangladeshi nationals to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bolzano, accusing them of aggravated fraud.
Last year, Italian authorities suspended work authorisations for Bangladeshis as a countermeasure of the high number of false documents submitted by this nationality group.
Due to the high number of false and counterfeit documents, the Italian Government has suspended the validity of all “Nulla Osta” (work authorisations) released in favour of citizens of some countries, including Bangladesh, until due verification is completed.
Italian Authorities Warn Third-Country Nationals Over Frauds
The Italian Carabinieri of Brennero, the comune where the latest fraud was revealed, has warned foreigners about such perpetrators, especially in relation to fake visas.
The authorities noted that visas must be issued only through officials, such as a visa centre or embassy, and those who witness the opposite happening, are urged to contact the police immediately.
Similar irregularities are quite common in Italy. In January, Italian authorities started investigations regarding five peoplewho were accused of forging documents and conducting fake marriages to secure residency and work permits.
Bangladeshis Filed Most of Their Schengen Visas to Italy in 2023
Bangladeshis’ top destination for Schengen visas is Italy, with 34 per cent of 39,729 visa applications filed in 2023, being submitted for an Italy visa.
According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfoout of all countries that grant Schengen visas, Bangladeshis’ top favourite destination is least likely to grant them a visa.
As the data reveals, only 40 per cent of visa applications filed by Bangladeshis for Italy visas, were approved in 2024, revealing that Italy had the lowest approval rates for Bangladeshis.
In addition to Italy, Bangladeshis’ top destinations for Schengen visas also include Sweden, Germany, and France. In 2023, Schengen visa applications filed by Bangladeshis reached a record high, after plummeting during the COVID-19 pandemic to merely a few thousand applications.