New Delhi: The Consulate General of India in Boston has issued a public advisory warning members of the Indian diaspora and other residents about a surge in impersonation scam calls by fraudsters posing as officials of Indian diplomatic missions and law enforcement agencies. The mission has urged people not to share personal information, transfer money or respond to threats made over phone or video calls.
According to the advisory, scammers are spoofing official telephone numbers and falsely claiming to be representatives of the Indian Embassy, the Consulate General, or agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), police and Customs authorities. The fraudsters allegedly use intimidation and fabricated legal threats to pressure victims into revealing sensitive information or making payments.
The Consulate said scammers commonly claim that a victim’s SIM card has been used for illegal activities in India, that there are issues with their passport, visa or immigration documents, or that they are linked to hawala transactions or money laundering cases. Victims are often threatened with arrest, deportation or other legal consequences unless they immediately comply with the callers’ demands.
The advisory further warned that fraudsters frequently insist that victims remain isolated, join video calls, or act without consulting family members or friends. They may also ask for copies of passports, identity documents, banking details and other sensitive personal information, which can later be misused for financial fraud, identity theft or blackmail.
The Consulate emphasized that it never demands payments or financial information over the phone, never threatens arrest, deportation or legal action, and never asks individuals to join video calls or submit identity documents for verification through phone communication. It also clarified that all official communications from the Consulate are sent only through official email channels.
The mission further noted that genuine Indian law enforcement agencies do not investigate criminal cases through telephone or video calls. It stressed that agencies such as the CBI, ED, police and Customs authorities do not carry out so-called “digital arrests” or ask individuals to transfer money through bank accounts, digital payment platforms or cryptocurrency to resolve legal matters.
The Consulate advised anyone receiving such calls not to panic or comply with the demands of the callers. Instead, recipients should immediately disconnect the call, avoid sharing any personal, financial or identity-related information, refuse to join video calls and refrain from making any payments.
Members of the public have also been urged to report suspected scam calls to their local law enforcement authorities and inform the Consulate General of India in Boston through its official email for further assistance.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said impersonation scams increasingly rely on fear, urgency and fake legal threats rather than technical hacking. He advised people to independently verify any communication claiming to be from government authorities through official websites or verified contact details and never transfer money or disclose confidential information solely on the basis of unsolicited phone or video calls.
