The Indian Consulate in Melbourne has urged members of the Indian community in Australia to remain vigilant after its emergency helpline was spoofed by scammers who impersonated Indian officials to extort money.
Fraudulent calls have been reported from the Consulate’s emergency number 0450 810 828, with callers falsely claiming to represent Indian law enforcement agencies, courts or government officials. Victims were told they were under investigation for legal or criminal matters in India and were pressured to pay money or disclose personal information.
The Consulate confirmed it has received over 1,000 complaints from across Australia and is working with Australian police to investigate. In a public advisory, it stressed that it never contacts individuals via mobile numbers or demands money, threats or personal details by phone, email or digital means.
Associate Professor Ritesh Chugh, a socio-technology expert at CQ University, told SBS Hindi how scammers exploit caller ID spoofing technology to appear credible.
“Most of these calls originate from overseas,” he said. “Scammers use internet-based phones to manipulate the number that appears on your screen, so it looks like a genuine call from the consulate or police. This makes it very hard for people, especially migrants and older community members, to tell it’s fake.”
He warned of several red flags: “Government agencies will never suddenly call you to demand money or personal details. Scammers often create a sense of urgency, threaten arrest, and ask for payment through bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency. They may also request sensitive information like passport or bank details. These are all warning signs.”
The Consulate acknowledged that at least 60 community members had directly reported scam calls in recent weeks, some linked to fraudulent visa claims. It has since issued a new emergency contact number on its official website and urged the public not to use the old number.
Community members are advised to:
- Hang up immediately on suspicious calls.
- Never share personal or financial details.
- Report incidents to the Consulate and local police.
- Lodge complaints through the ScamWatch website to help authorities track the problem.
“Scams work because they exploit fear,” Associate Professor Chugh said. “Even educated people can panic when threatened with arrest. It’s crucial to spread awareness so people recognise the signs and report these scams without feeling embarrassed.”
The Consulate reiterated: “Stay alert. Stay safe.”
