The men were traveling from Kuala Lumpur with electronic travel authorities that allowed for a stopover in New Zealand. “The group was prevented from boarding a flight to Auckland after routine checks revealed eligibility concerns that triggered alarms in our system,” stated Peter Elms, National Manager Border.
Subsequent investigations by INZ’s Airline Liaison Officer in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with airline staff, confirmed that the travelers’ true intention was not to join a cruise or transit to Australia, but to enter New Zealand.
Initial inquiries suggest that the group may have been misled by an unknown agent into believing they possessed valid work visas for New Zealand. INZ is actively pursuing leads identify those responsible for the scam, though locating individuals involved in such situations can be challenging.
“We take these matters very seriously and acted promptly to prevent a potential breach of the border,” emphasized Peter Elms. “This incident underscores our commitment to proactively managing offshore risks and safeguarding the integrity of the immigration system and New Zealand border.”
“Anyone seeking employment in New Zealand must exercise caution to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes and should verify offers with the respective companies to ensure their authenticity.
“Those who have been deceived by a visa scam should report it to local law enforcement agencies in their country of residence or where the scam took place.” The NZeTAs for all 25 individuals have been revoked, and border alerts have been issued on them for heightened scrutiny in any future travel attempts.
