Scammers posing as Immigration Department or Australian Federal Police officers are fleecing people using fake threats to their visas or immigration status, police say.
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Police say the conmen appear to be targeting people with Middle Eastern or Indian backgrounds.
The scam artist will call victims claiming to be an officer, and then tell the victim they could be arrested or heavily fined due to problems with their immigration status, according to police.
They then say the victim can avoid harsher penalties by paying a small fee online or through a Western Union account.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) told police they never request over the phone or international money transfer payments.
In dealing with visa issues, the DIBP either contact the applicant directly, or through their migration agent.
Police said Immigration was "sharing information" with the AFP and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in order to combat the scam.
Anyone who is targeted or falls victim to the scam can contact Immigration on 1800 009 623.
Violent or stand over behaviour can also be reported to ACT Policing on 000 or 131 444.
