Beware of Scams

Beware of fraudsters who may offer you registration, resettlement, financial or other kinds of assistance, fraudulent UNHCR documents and fake claims in exchange for money or other favours. These offers may be made to you in person or via social media, including Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, YouTube, or others. They may show you information to persuade you that they are connected to UNHCR. Do not believe them.

People who make such false promises are taking advantage of your situation. Avoid them at all costs. They may steal your money or profit from selling your personal information.

Any UNHCR services offered to you in exchange for money are fraudulent. If money or any other form of favour, including of a sexual nature, is requested from you, you should report it immediately to UNHCR through the online form here, to any UNHCR partner, and to the nearest police station immediately.

Fraud is a crime under Malaysian law. You can approach the nearest police station and report fraud. Take all the evidence that may be available to you while reporting the fraud incident.

Reporting fraud incidents will not delay or negatively impact your UNHCR case.

Identity fraud is where a person uses someone else’s personal information to register with UNHCR, or a person lies about their name or other identifying information This might include someone using another person’s UNHCR registration letter to access services or processes intended for that person.

Family composition fraud involves lying about the actual composition of a family or the relationships within a family to gain undue benefits. This can involve adding or removing individuals from a case based on false family relationship claims. For instance, friends might falsely claim to be brothers to add someone to a case, or a person might add a nephew as their own child in their case.

Document fraud involves presenting false or manipulated documents as genuine. This could include fabricating whole documents, altering legitimate documents, or using falsified UNHCR documentation such as identification cards, UC letters, appointment slips, or medical documents.

An exploitation scheme involves a person or groups of persons who falsely claim to have special ties or links to UNHCR or its partners, including resettlement countries, and ask for payment in exchange for registration, documentation, resettlement, or any other UNHCR process. Exploitation schemes can take place in person by individuals pretending to be UNHCR or partner staff, or online / through social media (e.g. on Facebook where someone promises to register individuals in a certain location and provide UNHCR documents for a fee, or through WhatsApp messages with photos or audio clips impersonating UNHCR/ partner staff, asking individuals to pay for UNHCR processes.

Corruption involves offering money or services to UNHCR staff in exchange for favourable decisions or expedited processes.