Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN355
2006-04-17 14:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:
FRAUD SUMMARY - TALLINN: SECOND QTR FY2006
how-toVZCZCXRO5330 RR RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTL #0355/01 1071434 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171434Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8474 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000355
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP; DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC: POSTS FOR FRAUD
PREVENTION MANAGERS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD VIS CPAS CMGT ASEC EN
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - TALLINN: SECOND QTR FY2006
REF: A) 06 TALLINN 099; B) 06 TALLINN 109; C) 05 TALLINN 964
D) 05 STATE 205073
Answers keyed to ref D:
A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Estonia's economy is growing (GDP up 9.8 % i
boosted by the country's 2004 accession to the EU, among other factor
unemployment stood at 5.9 % nationally, but was considerably higher i
The standard of living is often lower than that found in western Euro
most families, in Estonia both husband and wife are employed. Russia
organized crime groups exist throughout Estonia and members sometimes
visas.
Because Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union for 50 years, a larg
Russian speakers remains in Estonia. Relations between the Estonian m
Russian-speaking minority are sometimes strained. As of 2005, 136,00
Estonia were considered stateless and traveled on Estonian-issued "al
which do not accord the same travel privileges to EU and Schengen cou
passports. The number of stateless persons is decreasing due to nat
89 % of Posts' NIV applicants held Estonian passports, 5 % stateless
Russian passports, and 1 % passports from some other country. A mach
Estonian passport has been issued since February 2002, and a photo-di
1 2005. The alien passport is made to the same standard as the Eston
and is machine readable and photo-digitized. An E-Passport with biom
expected in 2007.
The volume of Estonian travel to the United States is low, due largel
small population. Additionally, there are currently no direct commer
Estonia and the United States, nor is there a large Estonian-American
United States. In 2004, according to DHS statistics, there were 8,23
admissions of Estonian nationals to the United States.
B. NIV FRAUD: NIV fraud in Estonia centers on attempts to enter the U
work illegally on a B1/B2 visa. Significant NIV fraud is not detecte
occasional bogus job letters and bank statements and false U.S. conta
occasionally presented. Post processed 7,709 NIVs in 2004, with an a
of 9.28 percent. Visa staff perform regular checks of job letters an
U.S. contact information provided by applicants. A recent check reve
unsuccessful NIV applicants all giving the same Brooklyn NY resident
the U.S. they intend to visit; a CCD check revealed the same point of
applicant refused in Tashkent in 2003.
C. IV FRAUD: Tallinn is not an IV issuing post, but it accepts peti
children of American Citizens. Embassy Helsinki performs all other i
processing for residents of Estonia. Post does not believe that ther
marriage fraud, though we have encountered the occasional "not clearl
petition.
D. DV FRAUD: Post does not issue diversity visas.
E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: Post reports no ACS fraud.
F. ADOPTION: Post does not issue visas for adopted children but does
investigations. Post has not detected fraud related to adoptions.
G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS FRAUD: Post is not aware of significant DHS
fraud. There have been apparent asylum fraud investigation requests
involving stateless or Russian passport holder claiming asylum in the
dubious claims of persecution in Estonia. Post has not had such a ca
early 2005. Recently, the use in the United States of an altered I-7
notice by an Estonian national was brought to Post's attention. The
the media when it was used in connection with an international chess
Post Fraud Prevention manager and RSO are investigating whether the a
ever used to gain U.S. immigration benefits.
H. .COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: Post has
received excellent cooperation from Estonian authorities, particularl
Ministry, the Citizenship and Migration Board, the Criminal Police, t
Police, and the Border Guards. In February 2006, the Ministry of th
Post with electronic lists of all passports (Estonian and alien) ever
stolen. The lists included 81,307 issued Estonian passports and 119
passports. Post has since kept CLASS updated, forwarding lost and st
additional 1,399 Estonian passports and xxx stateless passports.
Any Estonian or Estonian-issued alien passport can be checked against
Boards' lost and stolen document database at their website:
http://www.mig.ee/eng/inquiries/
I. AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: Estonia remains a source, transit an
destination country for trafficking in persons. Women trafficked fro
destined for other European countries, particularly Scandinavian and
Estonia hopes to join the Schengen area in 2007. When this occurs il
into Estonia may increase as it becomes a gateway to onward passport-
rest of the EU. At a recent visit to Border Guards at Tallinn airpor
percent of airport passenger traffic is to or from Schengen countries
largest single group of fraudulent document users encountered by at T
airport, are Moldovan nationals using Romanian passports, falsified o
J. STAFFING AND TRAINING: The consular section consists of two office
consular associate and two FSNs. Both help with fraud prevention work
TALLINN 00000355 002 OF 002
Both officers have completed PC541 Fraud Prevention for Consular Mana
WOS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP; DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC: POSTS FOR FRAUD
PREVENTION MANAGERS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD VIS CPAS CMGT ASEC EN
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - TALLINN: SECOND QTR FY2006
REF: A) 06 TALLINN 099; B) 06 TALLINN 109; C) 05 TALLINN 964
D) 05 STATE 205073
Answers keyed to ref D:
A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Estonia's economy is growing (GDP up 9.8 % i
boosted by the country's 2004 accession to the EU, among other factor
unemployment stood at 5.9 % nationally, but was considerably higher i
The standard of living is often lower than that found in western Euro
most families, in Estonia both husband and wife are employed. Russia
organized crime groups exist throughout Estonia and members sometimes
visas.
Because Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union for 50 years, a larg
Russian speakers remains in Estonia. Relations between the Estonian m
Russian-speaking minority are sometimes strained. As of 2005, 136,00
Estonia were considered stateless and traveled on Estonian-issued "al
which do not accord the same travel privileges to EU and Schengen cou
passports. The number of stateless persons is decreasing due to nat
89 % of Posts' NIV applicants held Estonian passports, 5 % stateless
Russian passports, and 1 % passports from some other country. A mach
Estonian passport has been issued since February 2002, and a photo-di
1 2005. The alien passport is made to the same standard as the Eston
and is machine readable and photo-digitized. An E-Passport with biom
expected in 2007.
The volume of Estonian travel to the United States is low, due largel
small population. Additionally, there are currently no direct commer
Estonia and the United States, nor is there a large Estonian-American
United States. In 2004, according to DHS statistics, there were 8,23
admissions of Estonian nationals to the United States.
B. NIV FRAUD: NIV fraud in Estonia centers on attempts to enter the U
work illegally on a B1/B2 visa. Significant NIV fraud is not detecte
occasional bogus job letters and bank statements and false U.S. conta
occasionally presented. Post processed 7,709 NIVs in 2004, with an a
of 9.28 percent. Visa staff perform regular checks of job letters an
U.S. contact information provided by applicants. A recent check reve
unsuccessful NIV applicants all giving the same Brooklyn NY resident
the U.S. they intend to visit; a CCD check revealed the same point of
applicant refused in Tashkent in 2003.
C. IV FRAUD: Tallinn is not an IV issuing post, but it accepts peti
children of American Citizens. Embassy Helsinki performs all other i
processing for residents of Estonia. Post does not believe that ther
marriage fraud, though we have encountered the occasional "not clearl
petition.
D. DV FRAUD: Post does not issue diversity visas.
E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: Post reports no ACS fraud.
F. ADOPTION: Post does not issue visas for adopted children but does
investigations. Post has not detected fraud related to adoptions.
G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS FRAUD: Post is not aware of significant DHS
fraud. There have been apparent asylum fraud investigation requests
involving stateless or Russian passport holder claiming asylum in the
dubious claims of persecution in Estonia. Post has not had such a ca
early 2005. Recently, the use in the United States of an altered I-7
notice by an Estonian national was brought to Post's attention. The
the media when it was used in connection with an international chess
Post Fraud Prevention manager and RSO are investigating whether the a
ever used to gain U.S. immigration benefits.
H. .COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: Post has
received excellent cooperation from Estonian authorities, particularl
Ministry, the Citizenship and Migration Board, the Criminal Police, t
Police, and the Border Guards. In February 2006, the Ministry of th
Post with electronic lists of all passports (Estonian and alien) ever
stolen. The lists included 81,307 issued Estonian passports and 119
passports. Post has since kept CLASS updated, forwarding lost and st
additional 1,399 Estonian passports and xxx stateless passports.
Any Estonian or Estonian-issued alien passport can be checked against
Boards' lost and stolen document database at their website:
http://www.mig.ee/eng/inquiries/
I. AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: Estonia remains a source, transit an
destination country for trafficking in persons. Women trafficked fro
destined for other European countries, particularly Scandinavian and
Estonia hopes to join the Schengen area in 2007. When this occurs il
into Estonia may increase as it becomes a gateway to onward passport-
rest of the EU. At a recent visit to Border Guards at Tallinn airpor
percent of airport passenger traffic is to or from Schengen countries
largest single group of fraudulent document users encountered by at T
airport, are Moldovan nationals using Romanian passports, falsified o
J. STAFFING AND TRAINING: The consular section consists of two office
consular associate and two FSNs. Both help with fraud prevention work
TALLINN 00000355 002 OF 002
Both officers have completed PC541 Fraud Prevention for Consular Mana
WOS