Reporting fraud and corruption

What is fraud?

Fraud is any act with the objective of intentionally misleading another in order 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.

All UNHCR services are 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 is aware of fraudulent schemes, whereby unknown 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 with resettlement or other humanitarian visa or passport to assist your relocation to a third country or government issued identification documents. These fraudsters would normally approach you online and will present you with fake UN-like identity or other documents to persuade you that they are representatives of embassies or UN agencies. Eventually these fraudsters request you to pay some fees to “kickstart the process.”

In other fraudulent schemes, fraudsters pretend to be refugees or humanitarian workers in need of urgent assistance or in search of a meaningful romantic relationship. In such cases, the fraudsters would contact you through various social media sites or on online dating platforms.  After a while, they 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 to assist other needs.

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 schemes, soon after the application or the acceptance of the “offer”, the candidate receives a request for fees for “processing”, “training”, “visa” or other supposed expenses or for strictly personal data such as banking information.

In addition to the examples above, fraudsters may claim to obtain a government issued identification document for you in exchange for money. Please note that Provincial Directorates of Migration Management are the only authorized institutions that can issue these documents and you may seek information from UNHCR or its partners on how to get registered.

These offers may be made to you in person or via social media, including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, and Telegram among others.

If you receive any requests that resembles one of the above scenarios, 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.

How do I complain about fraud?

  • You can email your complaint petition to UNHCR Türkiye at [email protected].
  • You can put your complaint in a Complaint Box. Complaints Boxes are available at the gate of the UNHCR Office in Ankara.
  • You can 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 contact the UNHCR Counselling Line at 444 48 68 to report it.
  • You can 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 anonymous.
  • In your complaint, please provide facts and evidence known to you.
  • All communication with UNHCR is kept confidential!

Fraud and corruption committed by UNHCR staff, or staff of UNHCR’s partners

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

What is sexual exploitation? It is any actual or attempted abuse of any position of vulnerability, for sexual purposes. Sexual exploitation and abuse is unacceptable behaviour and prohibited for all United Nations and NGO partners’ staff members.

How do I complain about UNHCR staff?

If you have information about UNHCR staff, or staff of UNHCR partners or contractors, being involved in corruption, exploitation (including sexual exploitation), fraud, 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.

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