Reporting fraud and corruption

What is fraud?

Fraud is any act with the objective of intentionally misleading another to obtain a benefit. Fraud involves but it not limited to hiding, falsifying, stealing, misreporting, or omitting facts. It is done to obtain a benefit.

What is corruption?

It is offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting (directly or indirectly) anything of value to influence improperly the actions of another party.

UNHCR is aware of various types of fraudulent schemes, where fraudsters present you with different offers in exchange for money. These offers may be made to you in person or via social media, including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, and Telegram among others. In some instances, people who have no association to UNHCR, or the UN in general, present themselves as representatives or staff of UN Agencies or Embassies, and promise to assist you to access government issued identification documents, or help you with resettlement processing or access to other types of humanitarian visa or passport to assist your relocation to a third country. These fraudsters will present you with fake UN-like identity or other fake documents to persuade you that they are representatives of embassies or UN agencies. They will ask you to pay some money to “kickstart the process.”

Sometimes, fraudsters will pretend to be refugees or humanitarian workers in need of urgent medical or other emergency assistance or claim that they are searching for a meaningful romantic relationship leading to marriage.  After a while, the fraudsters will request you to pay some money for “visa fees”, or for “urgent relocation from the camp” or to assist them to process “travel documents” or pay for other legal services in facilitate their travel from Türkiye.

In other fraudulent schemes, fake job advertisements that look authentic are posted on widely used media, including job seeking websites and announcement boards of universities. In such fraudulent schemes, soon after the application or the acceptance of the “offer”, the candidate receives a request for payment of fees for “processing “training”, “visa” or other made-up expenses. Some fraudsters may also ask you to provide them with your personal data including your banking information.

In addition to the examples above, fraudsters may claim to be able to assist you to be registered with the PDMM, or to obtain government issued identification documents or temporary travel permits in exchange for money. Please note that Provincial Directorates of Migration Management are the only authorized institutions that can issue these documents.

If you receive any of the above requests, we advise you to stop communication with the people who wrote to you. Do not send them any money or any of your personal information. Please report the matter immediately to UNHCR.

Remember that all UNHCR services are provided free of charge. Do not trust anyone or any organization asking you to pay for the services of UNHCR or its partners. If money or any other form of favors, including of a sexual nature, is requested from you, you should report it to UNHCR and/or the nearest police station immediately.

Be aware that any UNHCR services offered to you in exchange for money are fraudulent. For genuine information about UNHCR Türkiye work and services, please consult UNHCR’s official websites and/or the Facebook page, which are listed below.

UNHCR Türkiye official websites

UNHCR Turkey Help website
UNHCR Turkey Results website
UNHCR Turkey general information website
Services Advisor

UNHCR Türkiye official social media accounts

Facebook:
UNHCR Türkiye Information Board
UNHCR Turkey (general information page)

Twitter:
@UNHCRTurkey

Related information

About UNHCR in Turkey
How to seek help
Social and financial assistance

How do I complain about UNHCR staff or Staff of UNHCR Partners?

If you have information about UNHCR staff, or staff of UNHCR partners that are involved in fraud, corruption, and exploitation (including sexual exploitation or sexual abuse), report it immediately and directly to UNHCR’s Inspector-General’s Office (IGO) at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

All communication with the IGO is kept confidential.

Other complaint mechanisms:

 You can also email your complaint petition to UNHCR Türkiye at [email protected].

  • You can also put your complaint in a Complaint Box. Complaints Boxes are available at the gate of the UNHCR Office in Ankara.
  • You can also submit your complaint in a sealed envelope to a UNHCR partner’s office in your satellite city, to be delivered to UNHCR by hand.
  • You may also contact the UNHCR Counselling Line at 444 48 68 to report it.
  • You can also send it to UNHCR by PO Box: PK: 5, 06550 Çankaya/Ankara.

Important points:

  • UNHCR takes seriously all complaints and follows up on each individually.
  • Please note that filing a complaint will not in any way impact your case with UNHCR.
  • Complaints may be made anonymously.
  • In your complaint, please provide facts and evidence known to you (Who, What, When and Where).
  • All communication with UNHCR is kept confidential!