Dubai: 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 the 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 spoof the phone numbers of the Dubai immigration department to extort money from gullible residents, especially Indian expats, for allegedly violating immigration rules.
In a similar way, the consulate said it has come to its notice that “some unidentified people are making calls to general public residing in Dubai and Northern Emirates from the numbers 04-3971222 / 3971333 falsely telling people that they are calling from Indian Consulate and asking the persons 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.
“The general public is hereby advised that Indian Consulate does not make such calls,” the mission warned.
If anyone receives such calls, the mission said, he / she can inform the consulate by dropping an e-mail at hoc.dubai@mea.gov.in and cgoffice.dubai@mea.gov.in.
The consulate said it is also in touch with local authorities regarding these fraudulent calls. “However, it is reiterated that none of the Indian Consulate officials ever makes such calls”, they added.
