Indian Embassy in the US issues warning on fraudulent calls | Fusion - WeRIndia

The Embassy of India in the United States has issued an advisory cautioning Indian nationals and visa applicants about fraudulent calls.

These scams involve spoofed telephone numbers, making it appear as if the calls originate from the Indian Embassy.

The fraudsters impersonate Embassy officials and attempt to deceive individuals into providing personal details or making payments.

According to the advisory, these fraudsters typically claim that there are errors in important documents such as passports, visa applications, or immigration forms.

They insist that these errors must be corrected immediately and demand money in exchange for rectification. To create fear, they warn that failure to comply could lead to deportation to India or imprisonment in the US.

The scammers also claim to have received privileged information from the Embassy or Indian authorities, making their threats seem more convincing. Some individuals have fallen victim to these tactics, believing the calls to be legitimate.

The advisory revealed that, in addition to Indian nationals residing in the US, visa applicants have also reported receiving similar fraudulent calls. These individuals are falsely informed that their visa applications have errors and that immediate action is required.

The Embassy clarified that it does not call any Indian or foreign national to seek personal details, payments, or corrections to documents.

If any additional documentation is needed, applicants will be contacted only through official email accounts ending in “mea.gov.in”.

The Embassy has strongly advised people to ignore any calls that seem suspicious.

They recommend that individuals do not engage with these calls or provide any personal or financial information over the phone.

It’s important to remain cautious and protect your privacy in such situations. No money should be sent to individuals making such demands.

If anyone receives such a call, they are urged to report it immediately to the Embassy via email at cons1.washington@mea.gov.in.

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