The Consulate General of India in Boston has issued a public advisory warning Indian nationals about fraudulent calls from scammers impersonating officials of Indian embassies, consulates and law enforcement agencies.
In a post on X, the Consulate said it had received reports of fraudsters spoofing official telephone numbers and posing as Indian government officials to target people.
The advisory asked people not to share personal, financial or identity-related information if they received such calls. It also advised them not to join video calls, send identity documents or make any payments in response to such requests.
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The Consulate said fraudsters often claimed that a victim's SIM card had been used for illegal activities in India or falsely alleged problems with passports, visas or immigration documents to pressure them into making payments.
According to the advisory, scammers may also falsely accuse people of being involved in criminal investigations such as hawala or money laundering cases. They may threaten arrest or legal action, insist that victims remain isolated, ask them to join video calls and demand copies of identity documents, including driver's licences. The Consulate also warned that scammers may misuse video calls and identity documents for fraud, identity theft or blackmail.
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The advisory clarified that Indian law enforcement agencies, including the CBI, ED, police and customs authorities, do not conduct "digital arrests", investigate alleged crimes in India over telephone or video calls, or seek money transfers through digital payment methods or cryptocurrency.
