Indian consulate warns of new scam

Scamsters spoof mission’s numbers to call up people and extort money for ‘law violations’

The Indian Consulate in Dubai has warned residents about a new phone scam.

The mission’s warning came after it was informed about fraudsters calling people from phone numbers of the consulate and asking for money to settle alleged violations related to immigration rules.

Gulf News had earlier exposed a similar scam in which fraudsters spoofed phone numbers of Dubai immigration Department to extort money from gullible residents, especially Indian expats, for allegedly violating immigration rules.

Fraudulent calls

The consulate said it has come to its notice that “some unidentified people are making calls to the general public residing in Dubai and northern emirates from the numbers 043971222 / 3971333 falsely telling people that they are calling from Indian Consulate and asking the people to deposit money in different accounts claiming that they had infringed some immigration law.”

The numbers do belong to the consulate. However, the fraudsters are actually spoofing them through some nefarious method.

“The general public is hereby advised that Indian Consulate does not make such calls,” the mission warned.

If anyone receives such calls, the mission states: “He/she can inform the consulate by dropping an email at hoc.dubai@mea.gov.in and cgoffice.dubai@mea.gov.in.”

In touch with authorities

The consulate said it is also in touch with local authorities regarding such fraudulent calls.

“However, it is reiterated that none of the Indian Consulate officials ever makes such calls.”