India, Sept. 18 -- US Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito has warned employers against manipulating the visa system through fake jobs, sham employers and wage kickbacks, saying businesses that rely on such practices should expect investigations.

"A visa is not a license to cheat American workers. Fake jobs. Sham employers. Wage kickbacks.

If your business model depends on gaming our immigration system, it deserves an investigation.

American jobs. American wages. Zero patience for fraud." D'Esposito said in a post on X.

The warning comes as the DOL Office of Inspector General steps up its scrutiny of alleged fraud involving employment-based immigration programs, including H-1B visas.

The DOL OIG said in July that ...