India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an unusual public advisory on 6 July after discovering social-media accounts that falsely claim to advise the ministry on trade and migration policy while selling paid consultation sessions. In a post from its official @MEAFactCheck handle, the ministry stressed that the individuals behind the accounts “have no connection” with the government.
Screenshots shared by the ministry show fees of up to ₹15,000 (US $180) for a 30-minute “strategy call.”
![Foreign Ministry Warns Public About Fake ‘Policy Advisers’ Offering Paid Migration Guidance]()
For organisations that genuinely need help navigating Indian visa or work-permit procedures, a safer route is to use an established facilitator such as VisaHQ. Its India portal consolidates official requirements, supplies up-to-date forms, and offers live application tracking, giving exporters and HR teams transparent, contract-based support—without resorting to anonymous advisers on social media.
Although the alert did not name the platforms involved, officials say the fake advisers were most active on X and LinkedIn, targeting exporters and HR professionals seeking clarification on visa quotas, bilateral labour accords and overseas expansion. The scam highlights the growing commercial market around cross-border compliance advice and the difficulty businesses face in distinguishing legitimate consultants from impersonators. The MEA urged companies to rely solely on official domain e-mails (mea.gov.in) and verified handles, and reminded the public that policy consultations are not conducted via personal social-media profiles. For mobility managers the advisory serves as a cautionary tale: engaging unvetted “insiders” could expose firms to data theft or bad-faith visa filings that attract regulatory penalties. Companies should circulate the MEA notice internally and ensure that any third-party adviser can provide a valid contract, GST number and references. The warning is part of a broader government effort to combat online impersonation; earlier this year the Home Ministry’s CyberSafe initiative began working with major platforms to fast-track takedowns of fake government profiles within 24 hours of notification.
Screenshots shared by the ministry show fees of up to ₹15,000 (US $180) for a 30-minute “strategy call.”
For organisations that genuinely need help navigating Indian visa or work-permit procedures, a safer route is to use an established facilitator such as VisaHQ. Its India portal consolidates official requirements, supplies up-to-date forms, and offers live application tracking, giving exporters and HR teams transparent, contract-based support—without resorting to anonymous advisers on social media.
Although the alert did not name the platforms involved, officials say the fake advisers were most active on X and LinkedIn, targeting exporters and HR professionals seeking clarification on visa quotas, bilateral labour accords and overseas expansion. The scam highlights the growing commercial market around cross-border compliance advice and the difficulty businesses face in distinguishing legitimate consultants from impersonators. The MEA urged companies to rely solely on official domain e-mails (mea.gov.in) and verified handles, and reminded the public that policy consultations are not conducted via personal social-media profiles. For mobility managers the advisory serves as a cautionary tale: engaging unvetted “insiders” could expose firms to data theft or bad-faith visa filings that attract regulatory penalties. Companies should circulate the MEA notice internally and ensure that any third-party adviser can provide a valid contract, GST number and references. The warning is part of a broader government effort to combat online impersonation; earlier this year the Home Ministry’s CyberSafe initiative began working with major platforms to fast-track takedowns of fake government profiles within 24 hours of notification.
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