Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SINGAPORE225
2007-02-01 03:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
SINGAPORE QUARTERLY FRAUD SUMMARY - Q1 FY2007
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000225
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/FPP AND INL/HSTC
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO KCC FRAUD MANAGER
POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE QUARTERLY FRAUD SUMMARY - Q1 FY2007
REFS: (A) Kuala Lumpur 00008 (B) 06 SINGAPORE 03469 (C) 06 SINGAPORE
01335
SINGAPORE 00000225 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000225
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/FPP AND INL/HSTC
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO KCC FRAUD MANAGER
POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE QUARTERLY FRAUD SUMMARY - Q1 FY2007
REFS: (A) Kuala Lumpur 00008 (B) 06 SINGAPORE 03469 (C) 06 SINGAPORE
01335
SINGAPORE 00000225 001.2 OF 002
1. SUMMARY: H-1B fraud remained the most common fraud activity that
we saw in Singapore this quarter. Post began utilizing Lexis Nexis
this quarter to support fraud-prevention activities. The number of
H-1B applications from unqualified and/or short-term residents of
Singapore originating from India seems to have dropped this quarter.
Post devoted significant resources to addressing potential adoption
fraud. END SUMMARY.
2. Singapore Fraud Summary
A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Singapore remained a low-fraud environment
for consular services. Singapore's pool of visa applicants is
comprised of well-qualified individuals with reliable documentation
for the most part. Our key concern continued to be the potential
for fraud by the Indian H-1B applicant pool.
B. NIV FRAUD
Post continued to implement more stringent measures in the
adjudication of H-1B IT applicants originating from India. The FPU
unit utilized Nexis Lexis to vet petitioners' information submitted
through tax returns, W-2 forms, payroll registries, LCAs, I-129s,
and other documents. In addition, post continued to exchange
information with nearby posts concerning the legitimacy of local
companies. Officers applied the enhanced understanding of USCIS and
its requirements that they gained through attendance at fraud
conferences to improve the focus and substance of memos recommending
petition revocation for suspect petition-based visa applications.
Our sense is that there has been a drop in fraudulent applications
as well as a decrease in applications from recent arrivals to
Singapore, though it is too early to develop meaningful statistics.
C. IV FRAUD: See adoption fraud. Otherwise, IV fraud remained
minimal.
D. DV Fraud: No change.
E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: No change.
F. ADOPTION FRAUD: In August 2006, post's IV unit noticed a trend
in American citizens inquiring about applying for immigration
benefits for Malaysian babies to be adopted in Singapore.
Prospective adoptive parents gave inconsistent information to IV
staff and officers concerning whether or not they had already
identified a child for adoption and the details surrounding the
prospective adoption. While absolute numbers were low (half a dozen
in a few months),on a relative scale for this post it was a surge.
Post's immigrant visa officer swiftly engaged Embassy Kuala Lumpur
(ref A),CA, and USCIS Hong Kong, as some of the information
provided by inquirers raised concerns about potential child
trafficking. In particular, it was noted that the children
apparently had been brought to Singapore on social visit passes by
un-named "agents" of some sort for the purpose of adoption, possibly
without compliance with Malaysian laws on adoption or guardianship.
Only one couple has filed a formal application for immigration
benefits (I-600),which post referred to USCIS for adjudication.
USCIS denied the case w. We have posted a notice on our website
urging American citizens who wish to adopt in Singapore to consult
with the Embassy, submitted an updated adoption flyer to CA for
clearance and posting, and scheduled joint outreach activities with
USCIS for the current quarter to educate potential adoptive parents
about the intricacies of international adoption and U.S. immigration
requirements.
G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD: No change.
H. COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: The GOS in general
SINGAPORE 00000225 002.2 OF 002
remained eager to share information related to non-Singapore
citizens involved in alien smuggling or mala fide travel schemes.
The GOS also remained reluctant to release information about
Singapore nationals due to strict privacy laws, though there are no
significant cases to report.
I. AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: None
J: STAFFING AND TRAINING: Embassy Singapore hosted the CA-organized
EAP Fraud Conference in November. Post's Fraud Assistant and all
officers attended all or parts of the conference. Officers had the
opportunity to meet their counterparts in the region and discussed
face-to-face issues previously approached only via emails or phone
calls. Post's FPM also attended the KCC-hosted L-1 Visa Fraud
Prevention Conference in October, which was a great success. The
FPM brought back invaluable information on work visa fraud and
trends to share with other officers at Post. The FPM encouraged all
LES staff to complete the online training related to detecting
impostors and almost all LES staff members have completed the
course.
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/FPP AND INL/HSTC
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO KCC FRAUD MANAGER
POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE QUARTERLY FRAUD SUMMARY - Q1 FY2007
REFS: (A) Kuala Lumpur 00008 (B) 06 SINGAPORE 03469 (C) 06 SINGAPORE
01335
SINGAPORE 00000225 001.2 OF 002
1. SUMMARY: H-1B fraud remained the most common fraud activity that
we saw in Singapore this quarter. Post began utilizing Lexis Nexis
this quarter to support fraud-prevention activities. The number of
H-1B applications from unqualified and/or short-term residents of
Singapore originating from India seems to have dropped this quarter.
Post devoted significant resources to addressing potential adoption
fraud. END SUMMARY.
2. Singapore Fraud Summary
A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Singapore remained a low-fraud environment
for consular services. Singapore's pool of visa applicants is
comprised of well-qualified individuals with reliable documentation
for the most part. Our key concern continued to be the potential
for fraud by the Indian H-1B applicant pool.
B. NIV FRAUD
Post continued to implement more stringent measures in the
adjudication of H-1B IT applicants originating from India. The FPU
unit utilized Nexis Lexis to vet petitioners' information submitted
through tax returns, W-2 forms, payroll registries, LCAs, I-129s,
and other documents. In addition, post continued to exchange
information with nearby posts concerning the legitimacy of local
companies. Officers applied the enhanced understanding of USCIS and
its requirements that they gained through attendance at fraud
conferences to improve the focus and substance of memos recommending
petition revocation for suspect petition-based visa applications.
Our sense is that there has been a drop in fraudulent applications
as well as a decrease in applications from recent arrivals to
Singapore, though it is too early to develop meaningful statistics.
C. IV FRAUD: See adoption fraud. Otherwise, IV fraud remained
minimal.
D. DV Fraud: No change.
E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: No change.
F. ADOPTION FRAUD: In August 2006, post's IV unit noticed a trend
in American citizens inquiring about applying for immigration
benefits for Malaysian babies to be adopted in Singapore.
Prospective adoptive parents gave inconsistent information to IV
staff and officers concerning whether or not they had already
identified a child for adoption and the details surrounding the
prospective adoption. While absolute numbers were low (half a dozen
in a few months),on a relative scale for this post it was a surge.
Post's immigrant visa officer swiftly engaged Embassy Kuala Lumpur
(ref A),CA, and USCIS Hong Kong, as some of the information
provided by inquirers raised concerns about potential child
trafficking. In particular, it was noted that the children
apparently had been brought to Singapore on social visit passes by
un-named "agents" of some sort for the purpose of adoption, possibly
without compliance with Malaysian laws on adoption or guardianship.
Only one couple has filed a formal application for immigration
benefits (I-600),which post referred to USCIS for adjudication.
USCIS denied the case w. We have posted a notice on our website
urging American citizens who wish to adopt in Singapore to consult
with the Embassy, submitted an updated adoption flyer to CA for
clearance and posting, and scheduled joint outreach activities with
USCIS for the current quarter to educate potential adoptive parents
about the intricacies of international adoption and U.S. immigration
requirements.
G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD: No change.
H. COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: The GOS in general
SINGAPORE 00000225 002.2 OF 002
remained eager to share information related to non-Singapore
citizens involved in alien smuggling or mala fide travel schemes.
The GOS also remained reluctant to release information about
Singapore nationals due to strict privacy laws, though there are no
significant cases to report.
I. AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: None
J: STAFFING AND TRAINING: Embassy Singapore hosted the CA-organized
EAP Fraud Conference in November. Post's Fraud Assistant and all
officers attended all or parts of the conference. Officers had the
opportunity to meet their counterparts in the region and discussed
face-to-face issues previously approached only via emails or phone
calls. Post's FPM also attended the KCC-hosted L-1 Visa Fraud
Prevention Conference in October, which was a great success. The
FPM brought back invaluable information on work visa fraud and
trends to share with other officers at Post. The FPM encouraged all
LES staff to complete the online training related to detecting
impostors and almost all LES staff members have completed the
course.
HERBOLD