Regional Passport Office in Kochi issues advisory as online scamsters target passport applicants in Kerala

Regional Passport Office, Kochi, issues advisory to public to stay alert against online fraudsters targeting passport applicants in Kerala. Multiple incidents reported from Kerala of people losing significant amounts after clicking on suspicious links sent by fraudsters claiming to be from courier agencies. India Post warns people to never click on such links. Thrissur City police urge people to not click on suspicious links as it can expose banking passwords and card credentials

Taking serious note of an evolving pattern of online fraud targeting passport applicants and those seeking other services related to passport seva kendras, the Regional Passport Office, Kochi, has issued an advisory asking the public to be on their guard against falling prey to such online scamsters.

The advisory was issued after it came to notice that some applicants were receiving anonymous calls advising them to click on certain suspicious links for the dispatch of their passport/police clearance certificate (PCC).

“Applicants are advised to stay alert and not click on any suspicious links seeking additional payment for delivery of Passports/PCC. Please be informed that the Passports/PCC are NOT dispatched through any courier agency as it’s been sent only through India Post (sic),” said the advisory posted on X (previously Twitter).

Multiple incidents in which applicants were targeted and had lost significant amounts had been reported from various parts of Kerala of late.

The Thrissur police had registered a case in which a woman lost money after she clicked on a suspicious link sent by a person who called and introduced himself as a representative of a courier agency entrusted with delivering a PCC for which she had applied at a passport seva kendra through a travel agency.

After being threatened that the courier would be returned if the direction was not followed, the victim complied with it and clicked on the link following which an application was installed on her phone. Shortly thereafter, she lost money from her bank account.

“We are receiving e-mails from applicants about being approached in a similar manner and we tell them not to fall for it. So, we decided to issue an advisory clarifying categorically that passports and PCCs are delivered only through India Post. We are also planning to embark on a campaign centered on passport seva kendras to create awareness,” said Midhun T.R, Regional Passport Officer, Kochi.