India alerts citizens in China over 'imposter' posing as Embassy official

Beijing: India on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals living in China to be cautious about an "imposter" posing as Embassy official to dupe them financially by threatening with deportation and arrest for providing false information in immigration formalities.

"There have recent reports from some countries that an imposter posing as an official of the Indian Embassy has contacted Indian nationals and duped them into making money transfers through wire," Embassy of India here said in an advisory put out on its official website.

The imposter contacted the victim over phone stating that the host government was considering deporting and arresting them for providing false information pertaining to immigration details.

"He then urged the victim to make a money transfer to the account of the lawyer that the Embassy of India in that country had allegedly hired to assist the Indian national.

"The Embassy of India, Beijing would like to alert all Indian nationals in China, that the embassy does not make calls seeking money through wire transfer. In case any Indian national receives such calls, they are advised to immediately report the matter to the embassy," the advisory said.