Relocation scams don't usually look like scams
They look like a friendly agent, a real-looking letterhead, a WhatsApp group full of "successful" applicants, and a payment deadline that arrives before you've had time to check anything.
The pressure is the tell. Genuine visa and job processes rarely require you to pay a large fee within 24–48 hours to "hold your slot."
Real documents can be faked convincingly. A stamped letter or a job offer on official-looking paper tells you almost nothing on its own — it has to be checked against the source.
Word of mouth isn't verification. An agent being recommended by someone you trust means they were trusted once — not that this particular offer is legitimate.
What's inside the guide
Fifteen or so pages, written to be used at the moment you actually need it — while you're sitting across from an agent or reading a job offer, not weeks later.
The red-flag checklist
The specific wording, payment requests, and behaviours that show up again and again in relocation and visa scams — so you can match what you're seeing against a list, not a gut feeling.
How to verify an agent or agency
Where to check registration, licensing, and standing before you engage — for recruitment agencies, education agents, and visa consultants.
Checking a job offer or admission letter directly
How to confirm a letter with the employer, school, or embassy it claims to be from, rather than trusting the document alone.
Payment safeguards
What legitimate visa and relocation costs typically look like, and how to structure any payment you do make so you're not exposed if something goes wrong.
What to do if you've already paid
The immediate steps for slowing down or reversing a payment, and where to report a suspected scam.
A page from the checklist
Red flag
"Payment must be made today to secure your visa slot."
No embassy, licensed recruitment agency, or accredited school ties an offer to a same-day payment deadline. This line exists to stop you from checking anything before you pay. Treat any version of it — a slot, a quota, a "last space" — as a reason to slow down, not speed up.
Who this is for
Good fit
- You've been contacted by, or are considering, a visa or relocation agent
- You have a job offer or admission letter from abroad you want to check before paying anything
- You want a checklist you can use in the moment, not a long book to study first
Not for you if
- You're looking for step-by-step visa application instructions for a specific country
- You already have your visa and are past the application stage
- You want legal representation — this is a checklist, not legal advice
Questions
How do I receive the guide?
It's delivered as a PDF straight after payment, through Selar. You'll get an email with your download link, and you can also access it from your Selar library.
Is this specific to one country?
No — the verification steps apply across the UK, Canada, US, Schengen, and Gulf relocation routes. Country-specific embassy and registry links are included where relevant.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. It's a standard PDF, formatted to read comfortably on a phone screen as well as a laptop.
What if I have a question after reading?
Message the page you got this link from and ask — the guide is meant to be used, not just read once.