Avoiding scams

Typical patterns in Nigeria: fake job offers, visa agents, appointment sellers, fake documents.

Typical patterns

• Appointment sellers: people or pages charging for visa slots. Booking is free, and the consulate warns against third parties; misuse can block your bookings (booking page).
• Fake job offers: a "German employer" asks you to pay for a work permit, "visa processing", flights, a medical or "training" before you start. A real employer does not charge you for the job or the visa. Check the company yourself and ask for a contract; use Make it in Germany and the Federal Employment Agency to see how real offers look.
• Private recruiters for nursing and health jobs: German law lets only the Federal Employment Agency recruit in, and place workers from, the states on a list that includes Nigeria (Nursing and health). An offer from a private recruiter for a care job is a warning sign.
• "Visa agents" and "guaranteed visa" services: they have no special access. You can apply yourself in the online portal.
• Forged documents: certificates, bank statements or sponsor letters from a "helper". The consequence is rejection and an entry ban across the Schengen area (Visa and embassy). Affidavits must be declared by you; the mission says not to use service providers for them.
• Fake embassy pages and e-mails: use only the diplo.de addresses linked on this site.
• Fake proof-of-funds or blocked-account offers that ask you to send money to a private account.

We name no companies. The patterns above are widely reported; the mission statements are linked.

If it happened to you

• Stop paying and keep messages and receipts. Corruption or bribe demands: the Foreign Office's corruption prevention officer. Police reporting channels in Nigeria and Germany were not checked.
• Ask the consulate about a suspicious offer using the contact form: contact form.