MEA flags X handle 'MEABharat'; says no linkage with Ministry, advises due caution
New Delhi, July 14
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday issued a fact-check regarding an X account @MEABharat stating that it has absolutely no linkage to the Ministry and urged people to exercise due caution.
In a post on X, the MEA FactCheck stated that the handle is impersonating the Ministry and misleading people.
"We have come across an account on X, @MEABharat. This account has absolutely no linkage to the Ministry. As such, it is impersonating the Ministry and misleading the public and undermining public interest. All are advised to exercise due caution," the MEA FactCheck said.
Earlier this month, the MEA FactCheck had stated that certain individuals, who had no connection with the Ministry, were on social media platforms making posts suggesting that they are advising MEA on policy-related matters, including trade.
"It has come to the notice of the Ministry that certain individuals on social media platforms are making posts suggesting that they are advising MEA on policy-related matters including on trade, migration and other issues. Further, these handles are also offering paid advice/sessions on how to work with MEA. These individuals have no connection to the Ministry and the Ministry urges all to be careful against such fraudulent posts on social media platforms," the MEA FactCheck said on X.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honest question: why does MEA FactCheck exist but still such accounts operate for months? The impersonation is obvious - they're even offering paid sessions! Shouldn't Twitter suspend them immediately? Also, people should verify through the official MEA website before trusting any random handle. Cyber awareness is key these days.
It's sad that people have to be scammed to learn. But MEA should also make their official presence stronger - maybe have a verified list of handles on their website? And for those offering "paid advice" - that's just criminal. Hope action is taken against these fraudsters. Stay safe, everyone! 🔒
As someone working in cybersecurity, this is a classic impersonation scam. The handle name @MEABharat is deliberately designed to look official. MEA should report this to Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) immediately. Also, citizens should remember: no government ministry will ask for payment through social media. Basic digital literacy matters.
First they fake embassy job offers, now this! 🚩 People must understand - MEA will never contact you on Twitter for policy advice. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Good on MEA FactCheck for clarifying. But why not also file a police complaint and get the account banned? Show some teeth!
This is why I always check the official MEA website before believing anything. But I'm worried about people in villages or small towns who might fall for such scams. MEA should run awareness campaigns in local languages too. And please, @X, suspend
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.