US Consul General warns of tricksters

[NewsWhore]

The Consul General of the United States, Michael R. Schimmel, revealed yesterday that during the last year at least one thousand Dominicans have been tricked by unscrupulous individuals ("buscones") who promise work visas to the United States. He told Hoy newspaper that dozens of these tricksters have been arrested by the police, mainly in the areas surrounding the consulate, where they make contact with their victims. He said that the consulate has a list of the conmen who operate in the area. He said that the police have done a good job, but many of those arrested are freed in a few days and go back to their swindling operations. Schimmel said that their activities affect people who go to the consulate to get a visa because it increases the security mechanisms needed and casts suspicion on everyone trying to get a visa to visit the US. He reminded the reporters that the US consulate issued 400 H2B work visas in 2007 to citizens who met the requirements and he estimated that a further 1000 tried to get work visas in a fraudulent manner, but were found out. He was firm in stating that a person who tries to get a visa with false documents or one that is processed by these swindlers loses the chance of ever getting a visa to the US, as well as losing their money. Schimmel spoke to reporters during the launch of the second stage of the campaign "Watch out for that frog!" an awareness campaign using billboards and radio and TV ads warning about these conmen.

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