Immigrants planning a move to Australia have been warned of scams that leave them broke and without a visa.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has launched a new online tool to help keep potential immigrants on the right path.
"It is vital that people are aware of fraudsters' tricks before handing over money for immigration assistance which is never provided," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Protect Yourself from Migration Fraud information kit includes victims' stories, tips for staying safe online, help with identifying non-genuine websites and fake emails and links to other resources.
Mr Bowen said the most widespread scam involved online registration and the provision of a credit card number.
The new kit can be found at http://www.immi.gov.au/migration-fraud/
