Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MUSCAT235
2009-03-28 03:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
FRAUD SUMMARY - MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 2008-FEBRUARY 2009
how-toVZCZCXRO2798 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0235/01 0870333 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 280333Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0260 RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH NH INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0020 RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000235
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC; POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
ATHENS FOR DHS/ICE AND DHS/CIS; ROME FOR DHS/ICE
DHS/CIS
AND
DHS/CBP; NEA/ELA FOR D. MCNICHOLAS; CA/FPP FOR S. SEXTON; CAIRO FOR RCO CROWAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC MU
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 2008-FEBRUARY 2009
REF: STATE 74840
A. (U) COUNTRY CONDITIONS: The Government of Oman estimated its
population at 2,340,815 in its 2003 census, but the current number is
likely to be significantly higher due to an influx of expatriate
workers in numerous sectors of the economy. The CIA World Factbook
estimates Oman's population to be 3,311,640 in its latest on-line
update (March 5, 2009).
Oman's long history of trading between the east coast of Africa and
the Indian subcontinent has produced considerable ethnic, linguistic,
and cultural diversity in the population, although a majority of
Omani citizens are ethnically Arab. Arabic is the official and most
widely spoken language. English, Hindi, Urdu, Swahili, Baluchi, Loti,
Telagu, Malayalam, and local dialects are also used. Many government
officials and most merchants dealing with the expatriate community
speak English.
Like other countries in the region, Oman relies on imported labor to
support and carry out its development plans. With ambitious public
works, tourism and industrial projects begun throughout the
Sultanate, the last two years have seen a rapid increase in the
number of expatriates working in the Sultanate. In March 2008,
according to Omani Central bank figures, the expatriate workforce was
approximately 680,100, up from 511,000 in 2006. While a substantial
increase, indications from several sources suggest the official
number of expatriate workers in the Sultanate is understated.
Americans hold a handful of positions in the private sector, mostly
in the oil, education and banking sectors, but technical advisers and
managers are mostly from Europe and the Indian subcontinent. Although
the majority of third country nationals come to Oman to work, some
transit illegally to other countries.
The majority of third country national (TCN) NIV applicants are from
Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Syria.
Post's IV applicant pool is small, but similarly diverse. Post's IV
processing has decreased considerably since FY 2007 when processing
for nurses slowed due to a rollback in eligibility dates. Prior to
that, IVs for nurses accounted for 90% of Post's IV workload.
Presently, the bulk of IV processing is family- based petitions and
diversity visa applicants.
B. (U) NIV FRAUD: Post processed approximately 2,064 non-immigrant
visas from September 2008 to February 2009. Fifty percent of these
were B1/B2 applications from Omanis and Indians traveling to the U.S.
for business and training sponsored by employers in Oman. Post did
not encounter any fraud with these and other NIV categories processed
during the reporting period.
C. (U) IV FRAUD: Post received 31 IV petitions and applications
during the reporting period. Most were in the immediate relative and
family-based categories. Only one case of potential fraud is
currently under investigation. Post uncovered information indicating
that a Filipino IV applicant who has an F2B petition pending may have
been hiding a previous marriage.
D. (U) DV FRAUD: From September 2008 to February 2009, a total of 15
DVs were processed and issued. Post reports no fraud during this
period.
E. (U) ACS AND US PASSPORT FRAUD: The American Citizen Services unit
did not encounter any incidents of ACS fraud.
F. (U) ADOPTION FRAUD: None. Post received no adoption applications
during this period. Only Muslims are permitted to adopt in Oman.
G. (U) USE OF DNA TESTING: Post did not recommend any cases for DNA
testing during this period.
H. (U) ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD: Post did not process any
cases during this period.
I. (U) ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORIST
TRAVEL: No cases were reported for the period.
J. (U) DS CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION: No cases were investigated
during this period.
K. (U) HOST COUNTRY PASSPORT IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, AND CIVIL REGISTRY:
MUSCAT 00000235 002 OF 002
Oman maintains a national identity card for both Omani citizens and
expatriates. Post is not aware of any fraud related to host country
passport identity documents or any civil registry fraud.
L. (U) COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: As post has not
experienced any fraud this quarter, Post has not raised any fraud
concerns with the Omani government. The embassy has excellent
relations with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the consular section
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The ROP and MFA communicate
with the embassy whenever they encounter fraud that impacts the
embassy's operations.
M. (U) AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: None.
N. (U) STAFFING AND TRAINING: The Fraud Prevention Manager is Vice
Consul Stephen F. Ibelli. The FPM attended the fraud course at FSI in
July of 2008. The senior FSN, Peter Menezes, received fraud training
in 2003. Post plans a fraud briefing led by the British Embassy in
Oman's Regional Risk Assessment Manager for the end of March. The
briefing will cover such topics as common forgery methods, bank
statements, educational certificates and signature verification.
Local American consular staff will participate in it, as well as a
number of EU consular colleagues.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO PASS TO KCC; POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
ATHENS FOR DHS/ICE AND DHS/CIS; ROME FOR DHS/ICE
DHS/CIS
AND
DHS/CBP; NEA/ELA FOR D. MCNICHOLAS; CA/FPP FOR S. SEXTON; CAIRO FOR RCO CROWAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CPAS CMGT ASEC MU
SUBJECT: FRAUD SUMMARY - MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 2008-FEBRUARY 2009
REF: STATE 74840
A. (U) COUNTRY CONDITIONS: The Government of Oman estimated its
population at 2,340,815 in its 2003 census, but the current number is
likely to be significantly higher due to an influx of expatriate
workers in numerous sectors of the economy. The CIA World Factbook
estimates Oman's population to be 3,311,640 in its latest on-line
update (March 5, 2009).
Oman's long history of trading between the east coast of Africa and
the Indian subcontinent has produced considerable ethnic, linguistic,
and cultural diversity in the population, although a majority of
Omani citizens are ethnically Arab. Arabic is the official and most
widely spoken language. English, Hindi, Urdu, Swahili, Baluchi, Loti,
Telagu, Malayalam, and local dialects are also used. Many government
officials and most merchants dealing with the expatriate community
speak English.
Like other countries in the region, Oman relies on imported labor to
support and carry out its development plans. With ambitious public
works, tourism and industrial projects begun throughout the
Sultanate, the last two years have seen a rapid increase in the
number of expatriates working in the Sultanate. In March 2008,
according to Omani Central bank figures, the expatriate workforce was
approximately 680,100, up from 511,000 in 2006. While a substantial
increase, indications from several sources suggest the official
number of expatriate workers in the Sultanate is understated.
Americans hold a handful of positions in the private sector, mostly
in the oil, education and banking sectors, but technical advisers and
managers are mostly from Europe and the Indian subcontinent. Although
the majority of third country nationals come to Oman to work, some
transit illegally to other countries.
The majority of third country national (TCN) NIV applicants are from
Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Syria.
Post's IV applicant pool is small, but similarly diverse. Post's IV
processing has decreased considerably since FY 2007 when processing
for nurses slowed due to a rollback in eligibility dates. Prior to
that, IVs for nurses accounted for 90% of Post's IV workload.
Presently, the bulk of IV processing is family- based petitions and
diversity visa applicants.
B. (U) NIV FRAUD: Post processed approximately 2,064 non-immigrant
visas from September 2008 to February 2009. Fifty percent of these
were B1/B2 applications from Omanis and Indians traveling to the U.S.
for business and training sponsored by employers in Oman. Post did
not encounter any fraud with these and other NIV categories processed
during the reporting period.
C. (U) IV FRAUD: Post received 31 IV petitions and applications
during the reporting period. Most were in the immediate relative and
family-based categories. Only one case of potential fraud is
currently under investigation. Post uncovered information indicating
that a Filipino IV applicant who has an F2B petition pending may have
been hiding a previous marriage.
D. (U) DV FRAUD: From September 2008 to February 2009, a total of 15
DVs were processed and issued. Post reports no fraud during this
period.
E. (U) ACS AND US PASSPORT FRAUD: The American Citizen Services unit
did not encounter any incidents of ACS fraud.
F. (U) ADOPTION FRAUD: None. Post received no adoption applications
during this period. Only Muslims are permitted to adopt in Oman.
G. (U) USE OF DNA TESTING: Post did not recommend any cases for DNA
testing during this period.
H. (U) ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFIT FRAUD: Post did not process any
cases during this period.
I. (U) ALIEN SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORIST
TRAVEL: No cases were reported for the period.
J. (U) DS CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION: No cases were investigated
during this period.
K. (U) HOST COUNTRY PASSPORT IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, AND CIVIL REGISTRY:
MUSCAT 00000235 002 OF 002
Oman maintains a national identity card for both Omani citizens and
expatriates. Post is not aware of any fraud related to host country
passport identity documents or any civil registry fraud.
L. (U) COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: As post has not
experienced any fraud this quarter, Post has not raised any fraud
concerns with the Omani government. The embassy has excellent
relations with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the consular section
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The ROP and MFA communicate
with the embassy whenever they encounter fraud that impacts the
embassy's operations.
M. (U) AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: None.
N. (U) STAFFING AND TRAINING: The Fraud Prevention Manager is Vice
Consul Stephen F. Ibelli. The FPM attended the fraud course at FSI in
July of 2008. The senior FSN, Peter Menezes, received fraud training
in 2003. Post plans a fraud briefing led by the British Embassy in
Oman's Regional Risk Assessment Manager for the end of March. The
briefing will cover such topics as common forgery methods, bank
statements, educational certificates and signature verification.
Local American consular staff will participate in it, as well as a
number of EU consular colleagues.
GRAPPO