A Fake Website Loots Algerians' Money Through Forged Schengen Visas

French consulate in Algeria launched, last Thursday, a new scrutiny in the “visa Schengen” files, and for the protection of its website as well, after investigations by the cyber crime security services revealed that a fake “TLS Contact” website was used by criminal cell for fraud and looting citizens’ money, and in return the French embassy granted 127.000 “Schengen Visas” during eight months of the current year.

Actions that were taken by the French consulate in Algiers by order of its embassy, came upon warnings by the cyber crime security services about the need for caution and protecting the website that contains deadlines that are specified by the “TLS CONTACT”, for “visa” applicants, especially after they managed to dismantle several cells that are specialized in forgery and the use of forged documents in the file of visa “Schengen”, the last of which occurred only a few days ago, when Algiers security services for research and investigation dismantled a national cell that is consisting of 3 people, led by a double nationality man, who is placed under international arrest warrant, and seized a computer, a machine for printing colored copies, a laptop, copies of the visa applications, a certificate of the visa application center, and bio metric pictures for visas and passports.

In a related development, which is the first reaction from the French embassy in Algeria, on charges of fraud and embezzlement against the Center for the collection of visa applications, known as TLS CONTACT, the French Embassy refuted these news, considering them mere baseless rumors, and confirmed that scrutiny procedures are made in TLS CONTACT center to prevent any fraud of this kind, and all requests that are received by the center are automatically and directly transferred to the French consulate, after the spread of the existence of a mafia at the center regarding “Schengen Visas”.

On the other hand; official sources at the French embassy in Algiers told Echorouk that “Visa France” centers in Algiers, Annaba and Oran, receive 1800 “visa” applications every day, with an increase of 10% compared to 2015, and in return over 127.000 Schengen Visas were granted during the eight months of the current year.