Extortion racket rattles India’s German mission

A telephone number of the Indian embassy in Germany has been ‘hacked’ by scamsters who are using the line to threaten several Indians living in the country into coughing up a hefty amount if they wish to avoid legal hassles or, in some cases, deportation.

A telephone number of the Indian embassy in Germany has been ‘hacked’ by scamsters who are using the line to threaten several Indians living in the country into coughing up a hefty amount if they wish to avoid legal hassles or, in some cases, deportation.

After being contacted by several worried nationals, the embassy officials lodged an official complaint with the German foreign office and the Berlin police.

The embassy has warned citizens in an advisory to report any such call either to the mission or to the local police. Few calls were received from a number used by the Germany’s interior ministry, the equivalent of a home ministry.

The Indian embassy in Berlin and the consulate in Frankfurt did not respond to a questionnaire emailed by HT.

Germany has around 1,10,000 people of Indian origin with 43,175 of them holding Indian passports . The European powerhouse also has around 10,000 Indian students. “Please be advised that no such calls are made by the Indian embassy or our consulates in Frankfurt, Munich or Hamburg. Do not fall prey to this scam,” reads the advisory issued by the mission. The embassy has issued two such advisories in the last few days.

The caller demands a hefty amount to be deposited in a certain bank account, threatening that failure would result in jail or deportation, sources said. Both the German foreign office and the Berlin police have assured all help, they added.