Warning – Confidence Schemes and Scams

Fraudulent activities by third parties 

UNHCR is aware of various schemesseeking to extract money from unaware individuals through appealing for assistance, offering employment opportunities, or contracts, among others.  Such schemes are fraudulent.

The schemes may consist of letters, sent either via e-mail, fax, regular mail, web sites or social media, which appear as proposals emanating from people purporting to be officials of the UN or UNHCR. The letters/websites/social media may be made to look like they originate from the UN or UNHCR. For example, they may contain official-looking UN or UNHCR stationery, including the UN or UNHCR emblem and/or the words “United Nations” or “United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”, as well as e-mail or web site addresses.  Such use of UNHCR name and emblem is unauthorized and illegal.

Extreme caution should be exercised in relation to any suspicious communication as financial loss and identity theft could result from the sending of money or personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence.

Any transfer of money or personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence can result in a substantial financial loss and/or identity theft. UNHCR is not responsible for any such loss or theft.

Please be aware that new schemes are appearing with increasing frequency.

Please be aware that:

• UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).Convocations to e-mail interviews are fraudulent. UNHCR does not conduct interviews via e-mail.
• Offers of employment or job openings with requests for payment of fees are fraudulent.The scammers’ request for the payment of fees may come only after you have accepted the fraudulent offer.
• UNHCR does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. Any requests for such payment or information should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action and to UNHCR for its information.
• UNHCR does not offer prizes, awards, funds, certificates, scholarships or conduct lotteries through e-mail, mail or fax, nor does it conduct its procurement process through external entities or individuals on a commission basis.

If you become aware of such fraudulent schemes, please inform UNHCR as well as the local law enforcement authorities for their appropriate action.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation

UNHCR Representation in Japan

Japan for UNHCR
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) works closely with the Japan for UNHCR, which is UNHCR’s official private sector fund-raising partner. In cooperation with UNHCR, Japan for UNHCR carries out public information and fundraising activities, sends out letters asking for public support, conducts street campaigns, submits web banners, and implements telephone fundraising activities.

For more information on Japan for UNHCR, please visit the web page or call the telephone number: 03-4366-7373.