The Department of Home Affairs is alerting the public to an active scam where fraudsters are impersonating senior departmental officials to target people applying for visas to travel to Australia.
Scammers target vulnerable applicants
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke issued a public warning on Thursday after being briefed by the department. He detailed that the criminals are making unsolicited contact, pretending to be officials, and offering to assist with visa applications. In some instances, they have requested payment to supposedly speed up the processing time.
"Home Affairs officials will never ask people for extra money to process visas faster," Mr Burke stated emphatically. He urged anyone who receives an unexpected call of this nature to hang up immediately.
Official advice to protect yourself
The minister outlined clear steps for the public to follow if they encounter suspicious communication. The primary advice is to terminate the contact straight away, delete any suspicious emails or text messages, and then proactively reach out to the Department of Home Affairs through its official website.
"If you receive an unexpected call, hang up straight away and call back using a publicly available number," Mr Burke advised, highlighting this as a key method for self-protection. He also recommended broader online security practices, including using unique passphrases, keeping device software updated, and enabling multi-factor authentication where possible.
Verifying genuine communication
For those in the process of applying for an Australian visa, the department encourages a cautious approach to all communications. Applicants are advised to check the authenticity of any message claiming to be from Home Affairs by logging into their secure ImmiAccount portal. Official correspondence and requests are typically documented within this verified system.
The warning, issued on December 4, 2025, underscores the ongoing need for vigilance against sophisticated fraud attempts that exploit people's hopes of travelling or migrating to Australia.
