Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DAKAR2117
2007-10-30 16:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
DAKAR FRAUD SUMMARY - THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS FY2007
how-toVZCZCXRO3177 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHDK #2117/01 3031632 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301632Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9461 INFO RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH 0910 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 002117
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP
DEPT PASS TO KCC
PARIS FOR DHS/ICE
ECOWAS POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC KSTC SG
SUBJECT: DAKAR FRAUD SUMMARY - THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS FY2007
REF: A) 05 STATE 205073; B) 07 Dakar 0355
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 002117
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP
DEPT PASS TO KCC
PARIS FOR DHS/ICE
ECOWAS POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC KSTC SG
SUBJECT: DAKAR FRAUD SUMMARY - THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS FY2007
REF: A) 05 STATE 205073; B) 07 Dakar 0355
1. Following is Embassy Dakar's quarterly fraud reporting cable for
the third and fourth quarters (April-September) of FY2007.
Responses are keyed to Ref A.
A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Since the last report, the energy crisis has
resurfaced, with sporadic daily blackouts, which affect the economic
performance of the country. Senegalese have resumed their
clandestine journeys to Spain via Mauritania and Morocco, despite
the implementation of Spain's guest worker program. The economic
situation has deteriorated to such a point that the government had
to impose price controls on basic staples such as bread.
The political situation is characterized by an absence of a
political discourse between the opposition and the president. The
opposition has called for a dialogue to discuss reforms in the
electoral law as well as in the economic sector. President Wade has
reestablished the Senate, appointing 65 out of its 100 members, and
his party enjoys an overwhelming majority in both legislative
chambers. The lack of checks and balances and the increased
concentration of power is a concern for civil society.
B. NONIMMIGRANT (NIV) FRAUD: There has been an increase in the
number of reported lost Senegalese passports with valid B1/B2 visas.
Nine were reported stolen during the last two quarters.
Post has started seeing F-1 student visa applicants who went to the
United States with tourist visas and subsequently stayed and
attended primary and secondary schools at taxpayer expense.
In addition, there have been several cases of NIV applicants who
applied with apparently fraudulent Senegalese identities. After they
were refused on 214(b) grounds, IDENT revealed that they had been
previously refused in Banjul using Gambian documents and a different
identity.
C. IMMIGRANT VISA (IV) FRAUD: The identity of Sierra Leonean
applicants continues to be a serious concern, as it appears
relatively easy for individuals to obtain delayed birth certificates
under new names and dates of birth. Delayed death certificates are
also common. In high-priority cases, Post requests that Embassy
Freetown undertake field investigations in order to confirm
identities and qualifying relationships.
Post has encountered several recent cases of problematic IR-2
petitions filed by stepmothers. Often, the biological father's
archived nonimmigrant visa application reveals that he was married
to the children's biological mother when he obtained a tourist visa
and departed definitively for the States. Once in the United States,
he enters into a fraudulent marriage with an American citizen
without terminating his previous marriage. The American stepparent,
unaware of the fraud, files a petition in good faith on behalf of
her alleged stepchildren. In several of these instances, the
children's biological mother is a likely accomplice, later
attempting to obtain a tourist visa to rejoin her husband in the
United States.
Post has also identified one case in which fake DNA results were
submitted to DHS in support of petition approval. Petitioners, and
those assisting them, have become aware that Post must accept DNA
results attached to their petitions. The fraud would have gone
unnoticed had not an IDENT hit revealed that the applicant had a
pending immigrant visa application under a different name and date
of birth. Upon close scrutiny, Post found that the DNA results
attached to the petition was a "copy and paste job." Post is
presently investigating the non-profit organization that completed
the petition to find out if its name is associated with other
petitions.
D. DV FRAUD: DV processing continues to be complicated by the fact
that Post cannot rely on the authenticity of Guinean civil
documents.
E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: No change.
F. ADOPTION FRAUD: No change.
G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFITS FRAUD: No change.
H. COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: No change.
I. AREA OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: No change.
J. STAFFING AND TRAINING: The Fraud Prevention Coordinator, a
Consular Associate, attended the Fraud Prevention for Consular
DAKAR 00002117 002 OF 002
Managers class in October. The training will be very beneficial to
Post. In addition, our Fraud Investigator will be attending the
Fraud Prevention FSN training in November. Jim Loveland, the new
Consular Section Chief, has arrived at Post and will function as
Fraud Prevention Manager.
Smith
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP
DEPT PASS TO KCC
PARIS FOR DHS/ICE
ECOWAS POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC KSTC SG
SUBJECT: DAKAR FRAUD SUMMARY - THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS FY2007
REF: A) 05 STATE 205073; B) 07 Dakar 0355
1. Following is Embassy Dakar's quarterly fraud reporting cable for
the third and fourth quarters (April-September) of FY2007.
Responses are keyed to Ref A.
A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Since the last report, the energy crisis has
resurfaced, with sporadic daily blackouts, which affect the economic
performance of the country. Senegalese have resumed their
clandestine journeys to Spain via Mauritania and Morocco, despite
the implementation of Spain's guest worker program. The economic
situation has deteriorated to such a point that the government had
to impose price controls on basic staples such as bread.
The political situation is characterized by an absence of a
political discourse between the opposition and the president. The
opposition has called for a dialogue to discuss reforms in the
electoral law as well as in the economic sector. President Wade has
reestablished the Senate, appointing 65 out of its 100 members, and
his party enjoys an overwhelming majority in both legislative
chambers. The lack of checks and balances and the increased
concentration of power is a concern for civil society.
B. NONIMMIGRANT (NIV) FRAUD: There has been an increase in the
number of reported lost Senegalese passports with valid B1/B2 visas.
Nine were reported stolen during the last two quarters.
Post has started seeing F-1 student visa applicants who went to the
United States with tourist visas and subsequently stayed and
attended primary and secondary schools at taxpayer expense.
In addition, there have been several cases of NIV applicants who
applied with apparently fraudulent Senegalese identities. After they
were refused on 214(b) grounds, IDENT revealed that they had been
previously refused in Banjul using Gambian documents and a different
identity.
C. IMMIGRANT VISA (IV) FRAUD: The identity of Sierra Leonean
applicants continues to be a serious concern, as it appears
relatively easy for individuals to obtain delayed birth certificates
under new names and dates of birth. Delayed death certificates are
also common. In high-priority cases, Post requests that Embassy
Freetown undertake field investigations in order to confirm
identities and qualifying relationships.
Post has encountered several recent cases of problematic IR-2
petitions filed by stepmothers. Often, the biological father's
archived nonimmigrant visa application reveals that he was married
to the children's biological mother when he obtained a tourist visa
and departed definitively for the States. Once in the United States,
he enters into a fraudulent marriage with an American citizen
without terminating his previous marriage. The American stepparent,
unaware of the fraud, files a petition in good faith on behalf of
her alleged stepchildren. In several of these instances, the
children's biological mother is a likely accomplice, later
attempting to obtain a tourist visa to rejoin her husband in the
United States.
Post has also identified one case in which fake DNA results were
submitted to DHS in support of petition approval. Petitioners, and
those assisting them, have become aware that Post must accept DNA
results attached to their petitions. The fraud would have gone
unnoticed had not an IDENT hit revealed that the applicant had a
pending immigrant visa application under a different name and date
of birth. Upon close scrutiny, Post found that the DNA results
attached to the petition was a "copy and paste job." Post is
presently investigating the non-profit organization that completed
the petition to find out if its name is associated with other
petitions.
D. DV FRAUD: DV processing continues to be complicated by the fact
that Post cannot rely on the authenticity of Guinean civil
documents.
E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: No change.
F. ADOPTION FRAUD: No change.
G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFITS FRAUD: No change.
H. COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: No change.
I. AREA OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: No change.
J. STAFFING AND TRAINING: The Fraud Prevention Coordinator, a
Consular Associate, attended the Fraud Prevention for Consular
DAKAR 00002117 002 OF 002
Managers class in October. The training will be very beneficial to
Post. In addition, our Fraud Investigator will be attending the
Fraud Prevention FSN training in November. Jim Loveland, the new
Consular Section Chief, has arrived at Post and will function as
Fraud Prevention Manager.
Smith