The Chilean National Migration Service (SERMIG) has issued an urgent alert following the discovery of scams targeting foreign residents. Fraudulent actors are impersonating high-ranking officials to offer expedited migration processing in exchange for illegal payments.
The agency identified that scammers are specifically using the identity of Carolina Rojas, the head of the Metropolitan Region, to deceive victims. These individuals contact migrants via social media, promising to bypass standard wait times for a fee.
SERMIG officials stated that these fraudulent activities are not new. The agency noted that similar patterns involving different fake accounts have been detected in the past.
Official channels and payment protocols
National Director Frank Sauerbaum called on the migrant community to rely exclusively on official government communications. He warned that following unofficial leads could lead to financial loss and legal complications.
“Only on the Service's pages will you find all the information and, furthermore, you can access all the required advice for free,” Sauerbaum said.
Sauerbaum emphasized the importance of verifying the source of any information regarding residency permits or visas. “It is a call so that you do not risk your money or your migratory status,” he added.
The agency reminded the public that the only legitimate website for migration procedures is serviciomigraciones.cl. For social media updates, the official Instagram account is @migracionescl.
Carolina Rojas, the Metropolitan Region Director, also addressed the impersonation attempts. She clarified that public officials do not conduct official business through private social media messages.
“To get information, people must resort to the official information deposited on the SERMIG website,” Rojas said. She noted that officials only provide assistance in official public spaces and offices.
Rojas also highlighted the specific method for paying government fees to prevent further fraud. She noted that all legitimate payments must be processed through the General Treasury of the Republic.
“We do not charge for the services provided, and the only thing that people must pay are their visa rights,” Rojas said. She warned that payments should never be made to personal bank accounts.