How Successful Is the 'Visa Fraud' Campaign in Punjab?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Increased Awareness: The campaign educates the public about visa scams.
- Collaboration: Involves partnerships with local stakeholders and authorities.
- WhatsApp Chatbot: Offers accessible information in Punjabi.
- Resource Distribution: Information materials will be shared with local authorities.
- Community Engagement: Photo exhibitions highlight the risks of irregular migration.
Chandigarh, Aug 6 (NationPress) The UK's 'Visa Fraud Ton Bacho' initiative in Punjab has significantly raised awareness about common visa scam tactics, aiding in the protection of individuals from exploitation, monetary loss, and emotional turmoil, as reported by the British High Commission on Wednesday.
This campaign will persist with active collaboration from local partners.
Originally launched earlier this year, the High Commission has been collaborating with Indian authorities and local entities to widen the campaign's outreach into various regions of Punjab and Haryana in the upcoming months.
On Wednesday, the UK introduced a new QR code for its WhatsApp chatbot, which simplifies access to information in a user-friendly format, available in Punjabi.
This chatbot delivers official UK guidance on recognizing prevalent visa scam tactics and provides legal travel advice to those intending to visit Britain.
Information materials will be developed and distributed to local authorities and trustworthy partners cooperating with the High Commission to combat visa fraud, aiming to establish a robust network in this fight.
Daniel Sherry, Political Counsellor at the British High Commission, stated, "We are thrilled to further our Visa Fraud Ton Bacho campaign in Punjab, enhancing accessibility with the launch of our WhatsApp chatbot QR code. By collaborating with partners in Chandigarh and Punjab, along with the Indian government, we aim to safeguard those at risk of visa fraud."
Amandeep Grewal, Deputy Head of Mission in Chandigarh, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their unwavering support in making the 'Visa Fraud Ton Bacho' campaign a success. "Our mission is clear—protect innocent individuals from visa fraud. As we broaden this campaign across Punjab and Haryana, we will persist in raising awareness and advocating for safe, legal travel to the UK."
The WhatsApp chatbot is accessible in both English and Punjabi at +91 706 52 5 1380.
Furthermore, the High Commission has hosted two photo exhibitions in Chandigarh to engage with the local community, emphasizing the dangers of irregular migration and offering guidance on avoiding visa fraud.