3 arrested for running fake e-visa website, duping foreigners

A fake call center was busted in Delhi and three people were arrested for running a bogus website and duping foreigners seeking e-visa for India, police said on Friday. Varun Ahluwalia (36), Nipun (34), Anu Srivastava (42) created a website that looked similar to the official government website and cheated numerous foreigners, a senior officer said.

According to police, Ahluwalia had started Netcraft Website Developers LLP and registered it with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Many times, a foreign national searching for the official e-visa website online, was directed to the fake website. The accused used to charge USD 173 to USD 240 from people seeking visa to visit India and then they would themselves file an application for them on the official website, police said.

"The reason behind filing through the official website of the government was that if the application of any customer was rejected the gang would refund the amount paid by the customer by deducting their service fees of USD 50-60. In this way, this gang cheated numerous foreigners trying to visit India," they said. They added that investigation is underway and they are looking for others involved in the case.