US EditionInvestigation uncovers fake integration certificates for sale in Germany
Organised crime networks exploit immigration system weaknesses by selling fake integration certificates online, with customers paying up to €2,700, threatening citizenship integrity in Germany.
- Investigations by Stern magazine and RTL television channel found thousands of forged language and integration test certificates sold online, undermining Germany's system integrity.
- Organised crime networks exploit social media such as TikTok to sell forged documents, with customers paying €600 to €2,700, while state and federal authorities lack a clear overview of the fraud.
- Courts sentenced two men last year and three this year for forging integration certificates; German journalists obtained fake documents during undercover reporting in past months.
- Federal statistics show the Federal Office of Administration logged 1,009 German citizenship revocations over five years and 270 this year, while naturalisations surged 46% to 292,000 in 2024.
- Genuine applicants face reputation risks as forged certificates spread, and an immigration official from North Rhine Westphalia warned unchecked circulation could trigger migration and benefit fraud.
17 Articles
17 Articles
The falsified documents are increasingly being submitted to naturalisation and residence procedures. In Munich, more than 70 cases have already been reported this year.
Fake language certificates for up to 2,700 euros: how fraudsters trick authorities - and how police and aliens offices react.
A search has revealed that language certificates and integration tests appear to have been forged and sold thousands of times. A policeman has been experiencing for years how the state is infiltrated and describes the situation as "out of control."
Investigation uncovers fake integration certificates for sale in Germany
Thousands of forged language and integration test certificates have flooded the market as Germany grapples with a wave of criminal activity targeting its citizenship system, according to a recent investigation.
Integration certificates and language tests are mandatory for jobs and naturalisations. According to a media report, however, thousands of fake certificates appear to be circulating in Germany, which leads to the milieu of organized crime. Wolfgang Kubicki responds with a clear statement.
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