{"id":14986,"date":"2026-02-13T12:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/?p=14986"},"modified":"2026-02-13T12:57:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:57:49","slug":"vfs-global-warns-against-visa-appointment-fraud-as-travel-demand-surges-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/vfs-global-warns-against-visa-appointment-fraud-as-travel-demand-surges-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"VFS Global warns against visa appointment fraud, as travel demand surges in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VFS Global has issued a fraud advisory to Ghanaian residents amid rising demand for visa application appointments in 2026, warning applicants to be vigilant against scammers falsely offering early booking slots for a fee<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company said appointments for visa applications are free of charge and can only be booked through its official website. However, fraudsters posing as employees or representatives of VFS Global, as well as unauthorised intermediaries, are targeting applicants through unofficial channels and misleading online pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to VFS Global, these individuals often create fake digital profiles using company logos and names to deceive applicants into believing they are legitimate contacts. The fraudulent schemes are designed to exploit high demand for international travel for leisure, business, education and family visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prashant Kansara, Regional Head for Central &amp; West Africa at VFS Global, urged applicants to rely solely on verified sources for information and bookings. He advised travellers to follow official VFS Global social media accounts or visit the company\u2019s website to avoid being misled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs your trusted partner for the first essential step in your journey in securing your visa, we continue to urge applicants to remain vigilant and avoid parties who falsely promise early appointment bookings in exchange for payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the presence of location pins and information on popular social media and search platforms, many such fraudsters create a fake presence using company credentials like logos and the official name and include their contact details on these pages. This deceives genuine travellers, who may mistakenly believe these are official VFS Global contacts. Remember to follow our official and verified accounts on social media or visit&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vfsglobal.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">www.vfsglobal.com<\/a>&nbsp;for the correct information,\u201d Mr. Kansara said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of measures to curb fraudulent activity, VFS Global has mandated that only applicants with valid appointment confirmation letters are allowed entry into its Visa Application Centres in Accra and Kumasi. The company has also introduced visa application form validation that links reference numbers to appointment bookings, alongside a mandatory One-Time Password (OTP) requirement to limit third-party interference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applicants who encounter suspected fraud are encouraged to report details directly to VFS Global via its official email channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VFS Global noted that increased outbound travel demand has also resulted in longer processing times. In response, the company has expanded operating hours, increased appointment availability, and introduced dedicated submission and passport collection periods at its centres in Ghana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <a href=\"https:\/\/thebftonline.com\/2026\/02\/10\/vfs-global-warns-against-visa-appointment-fraud-as-travel-demand-surges-in-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a> for source<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VFS Global has issued a fraud advisory to Ghanaian residents amid rising demand for visa application appointments in 2026, warning applicants to be vigilant against scammers falsely offering early booking slots for a fee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":14987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"yes","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-articles"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16415,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/vfs-global-clarifies-role-reinforces-transparency\/","url_meta":{"origin":14986,"position":0},"title":"VFS Global clarifies role, reinforces transparency","author":"Paul N.","date":"June 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"VFS Global has reaffirmed its position as a trusted partner to governments worldwide, stressing that its optional value-added services have no impact on visa decisions and are offered solely as a matter of convenience for applicants. Siddharth Mehra, COO \u2013 Middle East and Africa at VFS Global said it operates\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/VFS-GLOBAL-1110x550-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/VFS-GLOBAL-1110x550-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/VFS-GLOBAL-1110x550-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/VFS-GLOBAL-1110x550-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/VFS-GLOBAL-1110x550-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 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Representation","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/advocacy-and-representation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SNBN-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SNBN-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SNBN-5.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SNBN-5.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SNBN-5.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7452,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/project-update-horticulture-business-challenge\/","url_meta":{"origin":14986,"position":2},"title":"Project Update: Horticulture Business Challenge","author":"Tracy Mensah","date":"July 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"We are thrilled to announce that applications for the 2024 Horticulture Business Challenge (HBC) are now closed!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Horticulture Business Challenge&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Horticulture Business Challenge","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/hbc\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-07-19_0_photo_5825782701192495471_y.jpg.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-07-19_0_photo_5825782701192495471_y.jpg.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-07-19_0_photo_5825782701192495471_y.jpg.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7444,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/hbc-2025-calling-dutch-students-and-young-professionals\/","url_meta":{"origin":14986,"position":3},"title":"HBC 2025: Calling Dutch students and Young\u00a0Professionals!","author":"Grace Agorigo","date":"June 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Join the HBC 2025, a 2-month internship program in Ghana where Dutch and Ghanaian youth solve real-world business challenges.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Horticulture Business Challenge&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Horticulture Business Challenge","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/hbc\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HBC-Flyer-NL-Participants-scaled-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HBC-Flyer-NL-Participants-scaled-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HBC-Flyer-NL-Participants-scaled-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HBC-Flyer-NL-Participants-scaled-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, 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Out of over 300 ambitious applicants, the top 24 young minds gathered for the highly anticipated kick-off of the 3rd edition of the Horticulture Business Challenge (HBC).","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ESQ-Elsie-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ESQ-Elsie-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ESQ-Elsie-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ESQ-Elsie-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ESQ-Elsie-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7928,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/applications-now-open-hbc-2025-ghanaian-edition\/","url_meta":{"origin":14986,"position":5},"title":"Applications Now Open: HBC 2025-Ghanaian Edition","author":"Grace Agorigo","date":"July 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Join HBC 2025, a 2-month internship program designed to equip you with practical and professional, skills to thrive in Ghana\u2019s horticulture sector.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Horticulture Business Challenge&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Horticulture Business Challenge","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/hbc\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HBC-2025-GH-Flyer.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HBC-2025-GH-Flyer.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HBC-2025-GH-Flyer.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HBC-2025-GH-Flyer.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/VFS-GLOBAL.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14986"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15029,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14986\/revisions\/15029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}