NEW YORK (TIP): Consulate General of India, New York has been receiving calls/e-mails from Indian Passport holders regarding fake calls from persons pretending to be US Immigration/Police authorities requesting for details of Passports/Travel documents, says a press release issued by the Indian Consulate in New York on December 5.

The Consulate warns that these are “hoax calls with the eventual aim of getting details of the applicant’s Passport number/date of issue etc. and could lead to Identity theft as well as other fraud. Sometimes the fraudsters may mimic the telephone numbers of the Consulate or other authorities”.

The Consulate has advised the Indian Passport holders “to exercise extreme caution and not to give any information on telephone unless sought in written from an identifiable Authority”. The Consulate advisory further says, “The details may only be shared by written communication and copy endorsed to the Consulate at cons.newyork@ema.gov.in. If such call has already been received and details have been shared, please report to the nearest Police Station and keep Consulate informed about the calls along with the Passport details shared with such callers”.