According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there have been cases when Lithuanian women who responded to such proposals became victims of violent sexual crimes.
The embassy says there has been an increase in proposals to women from Lithuania and other EU member states to enter into marriage with Ireland-based non-EU citizens in exchange for "a quick and generous reward." Non-EU citizens seek to marry European citizens to get residence permits or for "other sordid motives."
There are plenty of sham marriage proposals in the regional press, online, or in the social media. They may promise a generous reward, guarantee financial support during the period of marriage, coverage of travel and other expenses.
"The embassy warns against getting lured in by easy money as the promised money is not paid before or after the marriage and women may become victims of violent or sexual crimes. Crime organizers take away ID documents and restrict freedom in order to prevent their victims from contacting law enforcement," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.
The ministry also stressed that people are very often deceived by sham marriage organizers who say it will be only a formal marriage that will be easily terminated.
"But it is very difficult to terminate a marriage in Ireland. The divorce process might take up to five years. And only a court can terminate a marriage, and a judicial process might be costly. Based on Irish and Lithuanian legal regulations, both spouses have the right to property acquired during the marriage, therefore, a sham marriage spouse might demand part of the other spouse's property," the statement said.
