SynopsisIndian nationals in Canada are warned by the Consulate General of India in Toronto about fraudulent calls. Scammers are impersonating consulate officials to solicit personal information or money related to Canadian visas, PR, immigration, and job offers. The Consulate clarifies it does not handle these matters and urges reporting of such incidents.AgenciesThe Consulate General of India in Toronto has issued a fresh advisory warning Indian nationals in Canada about fraudulent phone calls from scammers posing as consulate officials. The mission said it continues to receive reports of spoofed calls related to Canadian visa, permanent residency (PR), immigration status and job offers, with fraudsters falsely claiming to represent the Indian Consulate.The Consulate said some callers have introduced themselves as officials of the Consulate General of India in Toronto and attempted to obtain personal information or money from victims. The mission clarified that it does not deal with matters related to Canadian visas, PR applications, immigration status or employment offers. The Consulate urged Indian nationals not to entertain such calls and not to share personal details or transfer funds in response to requests made over the phone. It advised anyone who has already received such scam calls to report the matter immediately to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and local police authorities.Indian nationals asked to report suspicious contactsThe mission further explained that its services are limited to consular matters such as passports, police clearance certificates, OCI cards, attestation services and powers of attorney. It said official communication is generally sent through email addresses ending with “@mea.gov.in”. In cases where a consular official contacts an applicant, the official’s name, department and application reference details are disclosed to the applicant. The Consulate added that its officials never demand payments over telephone calls. The advisory also directed people to official Canadian resources on caller ID spoofing, fraud prevention and cybercrime reporting. The latest warning follows similar advisories issued by Indian diplomatic missions in other countries after reports of fraudsters impersonating consular officials to extort money or collect sensitive personal information from Indian nationals. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)...moreElevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea.Subscribe Now