US Visa Slot Scam: Applicant Blackmailed for 20K

A desperate attempt to book a visa slot ended in abuse, blackmail, and a total loss of ₹20,000 for a US-based applicant.

The person needed a stamping appointment at the Indian Embassy. They found a Facebook group with 900+ members and trusted a so-called “agent” offering early slots.

They made a deal of two appointments for just ₹10,000. But first, they had to hand over their portal login, which soon turned out to be a big mistake.

Minutes later, the agent sent a fake screenshot and demanded payment through Remitly. After paying ₹10,000, the scammer suddenly claimed another ₹10,000 was needed for “two people.”

When the victim hesitated, the scammer didn’t hold back and started giving threats. They held the applicant’s private details and started claiming, “You’ll be marked as a fraud in the US… You’ll be banned from entry… I’ll leak your photo.”

Scared and helpless, the victim paid again, hoping to regain their login details. But it didn’t stop as the scammer refused to return the account and now wanted ₹30,000 more, this time for “defamation” and an “emergency slot.”

The visa applicant shared their ordeal on social media to warn others. With the dire scarcity of visa slots in US embassies, especially in India, the scammers are taking full advantage of the situation to exploit US hopefuls. It is advised not to act out of desperation and fall for these fake agents.