The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a public warning urging citizens to remain vigilant against fake social media accounts falsely claiming to be advisers to the ministry. The ministry clarified that certain individuals are misrepresenting themselves as MEA policy advisers even though they have no association whatsoever with the ministry.
According to a statement issued through the MEA’s official FactCheck account, some social media handles are posting content claiming to advise the ministry on policy matters related to trade, migration and other important issues. These accounts are also offering paid consultation sessions on topics such as “how to work with the MEA,” creating the false impression that they have official access to or influence within the ministry.
The ministry categorically stated that these individuals and their social media accounts are fraudulent and have no connection with the Ministry of External Affairs. Citizens have been urged not to fall for such misleading posts or paid consultation offers and to rely only on the ministry’s verified and official communication channels for any information or assistance.
The advisory comes at a time when cases of online impersonation and social media scams are on the rise. Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the credibility of government institutions, officials and reputed organisations to gain public trust. They then attempt to defraud victims by demanding consultation fees, personal documents, confidential information or money under false pretences.
Cybersecurity experts say that most such frauds rely on social engineering rather than technical hacking. Fraudsters first present themselves as government officials, advisers or authorised representatives before exploiting the trust of unsuspecting individuals for financial gain.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that misusing the names of government ministries and reputed institutions has become a common tactic among cybercriminals. He advised citizens to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be associated with a government department through the department’s official website or verified social media accounts before making any payment or sharing confidential or financial information.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also urged the public to report suspicious social media accounts to the respective platforms and remain cautious of anyone falsely claiming official links with the ministry. It reiterated that all official communication from the MEA is issued only through its authorised and verified channels.
