SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDG 8: Decent Work and and Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
The United Kingdom has announced the expansion of its visa fraud prevention campaign into the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, following a successful pilot already underway in the Punjab region of northern India. The campaign is a joint effort between the UK and India aimed at reducing the number of people traveling to Britain on fake visas and tackling illegal migration by addressing exploitation by fraudulent agents at its source.
The expansion to Tamil Nadu was launched by Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra during her visit to India. Key tools for the campaign include targeted outreach in high-risk areas and the introduction of a Tamil-language WhatsApp chatbot designed to help Indian nationals easily identify visa scams and avoid exploitation by criminal organizations.
This initiative is part of a broader UK government effort to deter illegal migration and secure its borders. It simultaneously builds momentum for the recently signed UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and demonstrates the implementation of the UKβIndia Vision 2035 agreement, which includes a commitment to tackling exploitation and reducing irregular migration.
By targeting visa fraud at its source through digital tools and local language outreach, India supports bilateral security objectives, protects its citizens from transnational crime and scams, and safeguards the reputation of legitimate Indian migrants and students.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Indian and UK governments ensure their joint digital fraud prevention tools, like the WhatsApp chatbot, effectively reach and protect vulnerable rural populations from fraudulent agents?
Follow the full news here: UK expands visa fraud campaign in India to tackle illegal migration at its source