The European Union (EU) has issued a serious warning to Pakistani nationals about a growing scam targeting those seeking visas and consular appointments.

Criminal organisations have been spreading misleading information via fraudulent listings of EU member states' embassies on Google Maps, the EU Delegation to Pakistan revealed in a statement.

The EU office has observed fake entries that include incorrect contact details, including phone numbers, for visa and consular appointments. These listings, which purport to be official embassy contacts, have been flagged as part of a large-scale fraud operation designed to deceive Pakistani citizens.

“This constitutes a significant scam orchestrated by criminal organizations,” the EU delegation stated on X (formerly Twitter). The office urged the public to rely exclusively on verified information found on the official websites of EU member states' embassies for any visa-related inquiries.

The delegation reiterated that only the websites of EU embassies offer accurate and legitimate information regarding visa applications and consular services. Listings found on Google Maps or in other directories are not to be trusted, it cautioned.

— X/@EUPakistan

The EU Delegation further clarified that it does not handle the issuance of passports or visas, as these are managed by the respective embassies and consulates of individual EU countries. Pakistani citizens wishing to travel to EU member states must contact the relevant embassy or consulate for guidance on obtaining a Schengen visa for travel within the Schengen Area or a National visa for countries outside of it.

The Schengen Area, which comprises most EU countries, offers border-free movement to citizens of its member states as well as to foreign nationals who meet visa requirements. This includes over 400 million EU citizens and a significant number of non-EU nationals, including businesspeople and tourists legally present in the area.

It is important to note that certain EU countries, including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, are not part of the Schengen Area, although Bulgaria and Romania are in the process of joining. Non-EU countries such as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen zone, with Liechtenstein expected to join soon.