Moroccan consumer groups urge tougher action against visa appointment brokers

Moroccan consumer protection groups are calling for stronger measures to curb the activities of visa appointment brokers, as visa service providers say they are stepping up awareness campaigns to combat fraud.

BLS International said in a statement that it has introduced new measures aimed at raising awareness about visa intermediaries and preventing fraudulent practices in appointment management. The company said the steps include strengthening digital security on its platforms, enhancing data protection safeguards, and preventing brokers from exploiting the system.

The measures also include a public awareness campaign to help applicants identify official procedures and avoid fraudulent offers or unauthorized intermediaries, the company said.

Ali Chtour, president of the Moroccan Association for Consumer Rights Defense, urged Moroccan consumers to exercise extreme caution when dealing with visa-related offers on social media platforms.

He said only officially recognized and regulated platforms with legal authorization should be trusted, warning against anonymous or unverified websites that may exploit applicants. Chtour also cautioned against sharing sensitive personal information, such as passport details, with unknown parties, noting that Morocco’s data protection law criminalizes the illegal use of personal data.

Chtour said some applicants, seeking faster or easier procedures, fall victim to platforms that exploit time pressure and make false promises of facilitation. He added that the law does not protect individuals who knowingly deal with unofficial entities outside the legal framework.

He said consumer groups have received complaints from citizens who were misled by parties claiming to offer assistance in exchange for low fees, urging applicants to rely solely on known and legally supervised institutions.

Bouazza El Kharati, president of the Moroccan Federation for Consumer Rights, said the persistence of what he described as the “appointment brokers crisis” points to internal complicity. He said the definitive solution lies in adopting electronic visas, or e-visas, which would eliminate intermediaries and allow applicants to register and pay directly online.

El Kharati questioned why advanced European countries have not yet adopted e-visa systems, despite their successful implementation in several African countries, including Morocco. He argued that maintaining the current system benefits parties that profit from a lack of transparency and, at times, from alleged technical failures that create opportunities for brokers.

He said the federation has previously contacted the French Embassy and visa service providers, including BLS and TLS, over these practices, sharply criticizing what he described as intermediary companies that financially burden applicants. He called for a full digital transition in visa processing to protect citizens’ rights, personal data and financial interests.