In Germany, the number of asylum seekers without a passport or other valid proof of identity is shrinking compared to a few years ago. However, about 45% of adults who sought protection for the first time in Germany last year still were unable to present official identification documents when lodging their application.
Finance police arrested ten people in the southern region of Puglia on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration and fraud. The suspects allegedly issued fake job contracts to over 400 migrants so they could secure stay permits.
The Italian police have arrested four people and carried out 70 searches in dismantling a criminal network involved in forging Italian documents for undocumented foreigners in the country.
175 people are under investigation in Genoa, northern Itay, because they allegedly falsely claimed to be running a small business to get a stay permit.
In Morocco, it is common to buy a work contract through a broker to realize the dream of reaching Europe. Many "scam brokers" have made a fortune at the expense of young Moroccans who dream of arriving in Germany. InfoMigrants spoke to some who fell victim to the fraud.