Follow Us on Google News
The European Union (EU) office has issued a warning to the citizens of Pakistan regarding “criminal organizations” disseminating false information about visa and consular appointments through fraudulent listings of embassies and telephone numbers.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan reported that its “diplomatic missions in Islamabad have detected fraudulent listings for Member States’ embassies on Google Maps, which contain misleading information about visa and consular appointments, including fictitious telephone numbers.”
“This constitutes a significant scam orchestrated by criminal organizations,” the office cautioned, emphasizing that individuals should only depend on verified information and contact details found on the official websites of the embassies of EU member states.
The EU Delegation reiterated that only the official websites of EU Member States’ embassies provide reliable information and contact details for all visa and consular matters pertaining to their respective countries, rather than entries found on Google Maps or other embassy directories.
According to the official EU website, the Schengen Area, which allows for border-free movement, accommodates over 400 million EU citizens, as well as numerous non-EU nationals, including businesspeople, tourists, and other individuals legally present within EU territory.
Furthermore, it was emphasized that the EU Delegation to Pakistan does not issue passports or visas, as these are the responsibility of the embassy and/or consulate of each individual member state.
Pakistani citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa for travel within Schengen Area countries and a National visa for travel to EU member states outside the Schengen zone.
Currently, the Schengen Area includes most EU Member States, with the exceptions of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania. However, Bulgaria and Romania are in the process of joining the Schengen Area.
Among non-EU countries, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland are part of the Schengen Area, with Liechtenstein expected to join shortly.
