US visa applicants in India are facing massive backlogs and delays in securing interview slots. Taking advantage of this situation, scammers are targeting applicants by posing as booking agents who promise faster appointments.
Recently, a few Indian applicants shared how their visa booking accounts were held hostage by fraudsters. These scammers reportedly contacted applicants claiming they could reschedule visa interviews for a fee.
One applicant said he was approached by a person who promised to reschedule a B1 visa interview to an earlier date. The applicant shared his account login details, hoping to secure a faster slot.
The situation worsened when the agent allegedly demanded more money. When the applicant refused to pay double the amount, the fraudster threatened to disable his account access.
The B-1 visa applicant later tried to reset his password but did not receive the reset email. This made him suspect that he had been locked out of his own account.
Other visa aspirants also shared similar experiences online. One person said he had to spend several hours on customer support chat to verify his identity before recovering the account.
As visa backlogs continue to frustrate genuine applicants, such scams are becoming more common. Authorities and applicants are urging people not to share login credentials with unofficial agents.
Many Indians planning business, travel, or work abroad are advised to stay cautious. Protecting account details and using only official booking channels can help avoid such fraud.
