Visa sponsors

Hi guys. I apologize if this doesn't turn out to be a scam but I really have no idea what to make of a phone call I just received.

So a woman just called up and said she was referred to my phone number by someone at the Delhi Consulate (or something in Delhi). She is in Chennai and is looking for a sponsor for 8-9 people to Canada. I don't suppose it is for a tourist visa. But she didn't understand when I asked for what kind of visa. She has a really thick accent and I had the most difficult time understanding everything she was saying. She kept saying that they would pay whatever demands I asked for. I told her I need time to think and then she seemed quite desperate and kept saying "I believe you will do it, right? I will call you in a few days."
Looking back in my phone another +919/8 number called me last night.

Is this normal?
How did my phone number get passed out?

No idea, but since if I get this right the caller was a total stranger to you, you should obviously just completely and utterly ignore it.

That you happen to be an India traveler, and so perhaps feel somehow personally addressed by the matter, will most likely have been purely coincidental. Anyway, if you wouldn't speak to telemarketeers and the likes, I wouldn't pay this any thought, either. Ciao, click. "The Delhi consulate or something in Delhi" certainly won't be keeping a database and passing it out of India travelers who might act as potential sponsors to random strangers, right?

Phone numbers just like email addresses just end up on commercially sold spam and telemarketeering lists and the likes. Keeping an unlisted and hidden number if possible where you live may help; but by the time you do end up on such lists, switching numbers first before doing so may be the only solution. Even then, it's not impossible to find your way onto them at some point either way. Again: Ignore, and don't get dragged into conversations with such folks even. Bad for the blood pressure.

(And the hint of financial recompensation to you, and notably "whatever" of it, makes the whole story that much clearer, of course. Do ignore, or, as the Monty Python crew would have it: Run away, run away, run away!! Sounds like some scam set-up if ever I heard of it, indeed. Hate to think of those who might fall for it. In that sense, you might want to report it to your local police if you can be bothered. I'm not kidding either, I'm sure they'd be most interested to hear of it. Cyber crime and including spam and mail fraud and whatnot tends to get taken pretty seriously these days in many parts.)

btw The only possible thing I can think of is if you left your phone number with someone in the past who may now be calling you. The way the conversation went and what references they gave you precisely would have given you a clue if that were the case.

Other than that, I really wouldn't pay it any thought. Except for to maybe report it, indeed, then. Odd scam; first time I hear of it. It beats long-lost Nigerian uncles I guess. (Halfway through that interesting conversation, and then later on again, you get an ad for the book by the author on the same subject. As it says in Dutch there, just click on the book cover to continue with the email exchange in question. I guess at some point, it really stops and you have to buy the book.)

Could they be Tamil sympathisers of the erstwhile LTTE who are looking at escaping to Canada. Just a wild guess.

Lol

Narendra.d may well be right. Look up the Sun Sea LTTE ship thing, although living in Canada you will already know about it.

Don't know about any ship thing, care to sum it up in a few words? I just did a web search on it of course, but looks like a lot of trees for the forest to be seen.

But if the implication would be that, say, some folks through some inside connections could get their hands on what would in fact be something of a database of known travelers to there, so who might feel addressed by the request; then so much the more reason to set the cops to work on it. Perhaps call some higher bureau than your local station about it, even. Not for you to spend more time on it than strictly required; but just to duly bring it to attention. Let them do the work, it's hardly your business beyond that.

Or maybe a ring to your Ministry of Internal Affairs, or so. Again, keep it brief; being a model citizen goes only so far, if you were to ask me.

Does seem like a total scam - forget about it till she calls back and then say 'no thanks but NO'

No ! Strange. Delhi does not have consulates, only High Commission or Embassies. And how would a Canadian Embassy in Delhi have your cell phone number, unless you gave them; and even then giving out a private citizen's personal details is violation of privacy laws.

Dal me kala hai

I think this is what Captain was alluding to.

Thanks so much everyone! It definitely smelled of a scam but I had never heard of it. I didn't even think of reporting this incident but I think it's a good idea. I will when/if she calls back. Unfortunately this does bring to mind that I had put my phone number on a number of resumes that I had sent to companies in India. It is irritating that my number would be misused for such a purpose. Luckily I hadn't put my address *whew*

The early morning, plus a few of last night and the unheard of proposal had me in a panic for bit.

The Sun Sea LTTE ship situation is really a sad situation and I do wish the best for all people involved.

Thanks again everyone!

Ah, to be clear: The Tamil plight has my sympathy.

But for them to use these methods wouldn't. I'd also be surprised if they were genuinely involved with it. So it would be a moot point in that sense.

Again: Don't pay it another thought. But do report it (not here, but to your appropriate authorities) if you care to. These would be criminals you're looking at (if not just pranksters, but then why would it be worth making the effort to them, and how would they get as far), like I said, you drop a notification to that effect to the appropriate authorities, then let them suss it out. If many do so, I guess it will give them something to go on. If no one does, they won't know, right.

And no, if that's the route you want to take, there's no reason whatsoever to wait for it to occur again. There's something very fishy going on here.

(Look, I'm well known here to be not a great fan of the authorities that be or anything. Doesnie matter; you could just report it, and leave it at that. It seems not insignificant.

Whether this would be directly related to some revolutionary organization I can't comment on; would be extremely silly if they did, as it would leave them very vulnerable. I somehow and really doubt it. (Phone and IP numbers used etc. could easily be checked.) But again, it isn't your business, beyond reporting it, if you care to. If you don't, then don't.

My guess would be it's just some new gang of people looking to rid people of their money. Originating where from, who's to say; it's very easy to cover up.)

I think you are up to speed now- but the Sun Sea (and another before that,'Ocean Lady') were two Tamil refugee ships to Canada that maybe the tip of the iceberg. Thailand has become a major transit point for Sri Lankan refugees/LTTE run operations (take your pick), the LTTE being accused of making money off the refugees to finance ops, and perhaps smuggle in their people into Canada (and Australia)

Just two days ago in Songhkla, Thailand... (I disagree with the experts there, btw, some of whom seem to be Sri Lankan government mouthpieces)
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/201...a-and-thailand