Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YAOUNDE1269
2007-10-24 10:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:  

CAMEROON VISA FRAUD: NOT ENOUGH HANDCUFFS

Tags:  CVIS ASEC KFRD CMGT ECON PHUM KPAO CM 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001269 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS ASEC KFRD CMGT ECON PHUM KPAO CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON VISA FRAUD: NOT ENOUGH HANDCUFFS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001269

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FRANKFURT FOR RCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS ASEC KFRD CMGT ECON PHUM KPAO CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON VISA FRAUD: NOT ENOUGH HANDCUFFS


1. (U) Summary: Three recently uncovered visa scams highlight
the ongoing efforts of malafide Cameroonian travelers to
emigrate illegally to the United States. Excellent support
from the Regional Security Office, collaboration with local
law enforcement and vigilance by consular employees are key
elements of post's efforts to combat this threat. Ubiquitous
fraud and corruption are driving the NIV refusal rate higher,
reducing the scope for commercial, educational and cultural
exchange. End Summary.

Scam # 1 - The Unfamiliar Courier
=================================


2. (U) Yaounde's consular section was recently visited by an
individual bearing a diplomatic passport from the Central
African Republic (CAFR) who claimed to be from their Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. He submitted what turned out to be two
more photo-substituted CAFR passports under cover of a
diplomatic note and mission orders. The visa clerk accepting
the application identified discrepancies between the
documents and those normally found, and an investigation
ensued. Post succeeded in having the "courier" return -
whereupon he was arrested by local authorities, being found
in possession of a series of falsified stamps, and a paper
showing his practice forgeries.

Scam # 2 - The Old Fashioned Identity Swap
========= ================================


3. (U) Post benefited from technological advances in
biometric identification, which helped us intercept a
gentleman who had successfully shed his real identity and
obtained a full set of legitimately issued identity documents
showing him to be an established businessman. After
obtaining a confession, post is gathering information about
the source of his documentation.

Scam # 3 - The World Traveler
=============================


4. (U) During the normal NIV intake procedure, a sharp-eyed
fraud investigator/NIV clerk became suspicious of two
individuals and flagged their passports for extra scrutiny.
Local staff quickly determined that the South African visas

in the passport were fraudulent, and later learned that
approximately a dozen other visa foils and stamps had been
falsified - including those from Equatorial Guinea, and
Gabon. Consular colleagues at relevant embassies were
alerted to the incident. The following day a second pair,
posing as a couple, appeared with virtually identical
passports and were similarly intercepted. On our
encouragement, local authorities have sent agents to Douala,
Cameroon's commercial center, to attempt to arrest the source
of these visas, and are making progress to that end.
Unfortunately a CCD text search revealed that these were not
the first clients of this visa-fixer.

Detect and Deter, With Help from RSO
================= ==================


5. (U) Post has made efforts to emphasize and publicize the
importance of honesty in the visa process - with apparently
limited impact. In a bid to strengthen that message, we have
adopted a standard practice of orchestrating the arrest of
malafide applicants in view of those in the consular waiting
room. An announcement is subsequently made to the crowd
reassuring them of their own safety, and explaining that the
individual in question had presented documents in violation
of both U.S. and Cameroonian law. Applicants contemplating
doing the same are urged to reconsider their actions and
abandon their applications, which a few have elected to do.


6. (U) Yaounde's Consular section has benefited greatly from
a skilled and supportive Regional Security Office that has
dedicated time and expertise to visa investigations,
coordination with host country law enforcement, and
professional development of post's two fraud investigators.
This team has helped improve the knowledge of skills of all
consular staff, and works with a range of experts in other
embassies' consular sections and the airlines to stay current
with fraud trends.

Comment and Recommendation
==========================


7. (U) While Yaounde is fortunate to have excellent resources
to utilize in our battle against fraudulent applications, the
recent rash of arrests underlines the fact that visa fraud is
commonplace, sophisticated and often successful. Moreover,

YAOUNDE 00001269 002 OF 002


an increasing number of requests for investigation of asylum
cases by the Department of Homeland Security and DRL are
being handled by the RSO office. The fact that not one of
these investigations has revealed a bonafide claim makes it
abundantly clear that large numbers of Cameroonians from
virtually every demographic are making falsified asylum
claims - often after obtaining an NIV through
misrepresentation. While post will continue to make every
effort to properly identify legitimate business travelers,
students and other visitors, we anticipate a continued rise
in the refusal rate of first-time applicants, and a resulting
negative impact on exchanges of all sorts. Likewise, post
has seen files from many dubious asylum recipients who
resided temporarily in Europe or elsewhere, and would
encourage other embassies dealing with Cameroonian applicants
to take particular care in handling these cases in light of
these observations.
GARVEY