Indian Consulate warns expats of emergency certificate, visa fraud

Dubai: The Consulate General of India in Dubai has warned Indian residents against scams that falsely claim to assist Indian nationals in visa regularisation, emergency certificate or ‘outpass’ procedures. In a circular issued on August 31, the consulate said that it had come to notice that a number of Indian nationals in the UAE, particularly among blue collar workers, had fallen prey to such scams. “In the course of this fraudulent process, such individuals/agents make the victims scan their face and fingerprints to fraudulently conduct financial transactions, open bank accounts, or obtain loans or credit cards in the name of the affected Indian nationals, without their knowledge or consent,” the circular stated. “This can lead to victims finding themselves liable for financial dues or transactions they are unaware of resulting in multiple fines, travel bans, and in some cases, even jail time,” it added. The consulate also advised Indian nationals to follow some best practices and have an understanding of what the process for official documents is, to avoid falling prey to such fraudulent activities. 1. Do not share your passport, Emirates ID or biometric data Do not allow an agent to scan your eye, face or fingerprints. The consulate additionally advised residents against sharing personal and financial credentials with unauthorised individuals or agencies, under any circumstances. 2. Any biometric scans should only be done at authorised facilities When a biometric scan is required for an exit pass, also commonly referred to as an ‘outpass’, Emirates ID, or visa application, it must only be done at official UAE Government facilities or counters, and never through private individuals, agents, or third-party service providers claiming to be authorised by the UAE authorities, the circular advised. 3. A biometric scan is not required for issuing passport or an emergency certificate The advisory also clarified that the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi do not require fingerprint, face or eye scans from applicants for the issuance of a passport or Emergency Certificate. “Any individual or agent demanding such biometric data in the name of the Embassy is engaging in fraud and should not be entertained,” it added. How to report fraudulent activities Indian nationals who are approached by any unauthorised individual or agent demanding biometric data or Emirates ID are advised to approach the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra, which is the support centre for expat Indians, through: Toll Free Number – 80046342 Whatsapp / SMS – 00971543090571 Email at pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in The Consulate urged Indian nationals residing in or visiting to exercise caution, verify the credentials of individuals or agencies offering such services, and promptly report suspicious activity to the Consulate and/or the concerned UAE authorities.