One of the victims said he only found out it was a forged chop when immigration officials confiscated his passport following an inspection. He has been told to pay a fine ofB$1,500.

Officials at the Indian High Commission in Brunei confirmed to the Borneo Bulletin that the victimised group had approached them last Monday to seek their assistance.

A top Immigration officer acknowledged visa and stamp forgery does exist in the country.

"People should not hand over their passports to any unauthorised person but should instead come to the Immigration Department," he said.

"It is an offence under the Immigration Act to have a forged chop in the travel

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There is a possibility that many such fraudulent agents are doing the rounds looking for gullible foreign workers. The Philippine Embassy here also said that two Filipinos were brought to court last week for forged visas.