Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAIRO1945
2009-10-13 14:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

Cooperation and Coordination Busts Fraud Ring

Tags:  KFRD CVIS CMGT ASEC SMIG EG 
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VZCZCXRO8665
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #1945 2861458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131458Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3847
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0006
RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS CAIRO 001945 

DEPT FOR CA/FPP, CA/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CR/OCI
ALSO FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, NEA/RA, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD
AND FOR DS/IP/NEA

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION UNITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CMGT ASEC SMIG EG
SUBJECT: Cooperation and Coordination Busts Fraud Ring

UNCLAS CAIRO 001945

DEPT FOR CA/FPP, CA/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CR/OCI
ALSO FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, NEA/RA, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD
AND FOR DS/IP/NEA

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION UNITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CMGT ASEC SMIG EG
SUBJECT: Cooperation and Coordination Busts Fraud Ring


1. (SBU) Summary: The Cairo Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU),the
Egyptian State Security Investigative Services (SSIS) and the Greek
Embassy in Cairo worked together to identify a major fraud ring
involved in obtaining Schengen visas for mala fide travelers. The
ring used fake US visas and bogus supporting documentation to boost
the credibility of individuals intending to live and work in one of
the European Union (EU) countries. SSIS has made arrests and seized
materials which indicate a large number of Schengen visas may have
been issued to unqualified applicants who used this fraud ring. End
Summary.

Greek Suspicions
--------------


2. (SBU) During a courtesy call by Consul General Roberto Powers
with the Greek Consul General, the latter asked for the verification
of a US visa. The US visa was in an Egyptian passport belonging to
an individual applying for a Schengen visa at the Greek Embassy in
Cairo. CG Powers identified the visa as having been altered due to
faint scratches and markings over some of the characters. An
additional Consular Consolidated Database (CCD) check by the Fraud
Prevention Manager (FPM) showed no visa foil number worldwide
matching the one on the US visa. In fact, all the information on the
visa was fraudulent.

American Coordination
--------------


3. (SBU) With information provided by the Greek Embassy, the FPU
contacted the Egyptian authorities for assistance. The Egyptian
Civil Affairs Agency, (CAA),the central depository for all civil
affairs records, confirmed an address in Lower Egypt for the above
individual. In addition, Egyptian immigration authorities confirmed
passport issuance and movements for the individual. The A/RSO-I
alerted SSIS to the attempted fraud of this individual and the
possibility that others might be utilizing fake US visas and bogus
Egyptian documentation to obtain Schengen visas.

Egyptian Action
--------------


4. (SBU) The individual admitted to SSIS that he had agreed to pay
70,000 Egyptian pounds (LE),about USD 12,000, to a visa facilitator
in exchange for a genuine Schengen visa. SSIS subsequently arrested
the visa facilitator at his residence and seized 20 individualized
Egyptian passports, 50,000 LE in cash, about USD 10,000 and a large
volume of fake Egyptian government stamps. The individual admitted
to preparing bogus supporting documentation for visa applications to
the Greek and French embassies in particular. However, he stated
that the fake US visas were prepared by another individual.

Greek-American-Egyptian Cooperation
--------------


5. (SBU) SSIS solicited FPU assistance in locating any US visa
applications associated with this visa forger. FPU found a record in
CCD for a revoked US visa that indicated this individual and three
others had falsely claimed in 2007 to be working for a Saudi prince
traveling to the United States. The A/RSO-I worked with SSIS to
identify a current local address for this individual based on his
previous visa application and SSIS is continuing to investigate. In
addition, SSIS provided a list of 20 names to FPU's two LES Senior
Fraud Investigators that was found at the above address including
photocopies of Schengen visas issued by the Greek Embassy. The FPM
worked with the Greek Consul to confirm that these visas had been
issued by the Greek Embassy, but probably based on bogus supporting
documentation. In addition, the FPM shared the list of 20 names
with contacts at other EU embassies and provided a summary of the
fraud ring.

Comment
--------------


6. The close cooperation and coordination among the Greek Embassy,
the Egyptian authorities and the FPU helped to quickly identify and
stop a fraud ring that had been successfully obtaining Schengen
visas for mala fide travelers. SSIS is continuing to investigate
and is confident more arrests will soon follow. Post will report
results as they develop.

SCOBEY