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By SJA Jafri (Bureau Chief Australia)
CANBERRA: The High Commission of India to Canberra has issued an alert through an official notice placed at its website too regarding the fake websites and fraudulent calls.
The alert explains that it has been brought to our notice that many third-party websites offering Indian e-Visa to foreign nationals have cropped up. Such fake websites not only misguide the applicants but, in some cases, dupe them of their money. The list of some of these fake websites included https://www.evisatoindia.org.
Many of these websites are located outside India while the matter has been taken up for appropriate action against the companies concerned, all visa applicants are advised to exercise due care and caution while applying for Indian e-Visa. The e-Visa facility to India is available on Government of India website: www.indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Furthermore, the High Commission of India has also informed about fraudulent calls that some Indian nationals, who have recently arrived in or migrated to Australia, have been receiving fraudulent calls from unauthorised persons about their Australian visa / immigration status. At times the callers have even spoofed the phone numbers allotted to the High Commission of India, Canberra or its Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or their Service Provider viz., 
M/s VFS Global. These calls are not made by any authorized officials from these offices. It may be noteworthy that the Indian High Commission or its Consulates usually do not deal with the immigrant Indians regarding their Australian visa / immigration status. The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Government of Australia and Australian Federal Police have been informed about these suspicious calls. Since, this is a matter concerning Australian Visa, it is suggested that such the incidents be reported to local police authorities and a copy of report be forwarded to visa@hcindia-au.org. The guidelines are also available at http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/
