Coronavirus: Indian Consulate in Dubai warns against repatriation scams

Officials reiterate that flights must be approved by authorities

Stranded Indian passengers who arrived by an Air India flight from Singapore wait for transport. EPA

Indian nationals in Oman wearing face masks get their body temperatures checked at a terminal in Muscat International Airport. AFP

A man wearing latex gloves and a mask checks airline tickets and travel documents in Muscat. AFP

Medical staff collect a sample from an Indian citizen flown home from Dubai by Air India flight at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP

Indian citizens queue at Kuwait International Airport before boarding a repatriation flight to India. AFP

Stranded Indian passengers who arrived by an Air India flight from Singapore wait to come out of the terminal. EPA

A security personnel wearing protective gear stands guard as he waits for Indian citizens flown home from Dubai by Air India flight to arrive at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP

Indian citizens flown home from Dubai by Air India flight arrive at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP

Pavan Kapoor, India’s ambassador to the UAE, says the leaders of both nations have been in regular contact throughout the pandemic. Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi

The Consulate General of India in Dubai has warned its citizens not to be fooled by false claims of charter flights to India.

Rogue travel agencies and individuals have targeted those seeking repatriation with the promise of chartered flights. The scam asks people to pay in advance for a ticket and the costs of quarantine.

The consulate has confirmed no such flights exist. Any chartered flights must be approved by the government of India until regular international air travel resumes.

“Consulate General of India in Dubai would like to advise all the Indian nationals living in UAE that the government of India has yet not accorded approval for any such chartered flights as of now,” said a statement by the consulate.

“A proposal of chartered flight to India, if any, for any designated purpose, will be approved by the government of India and routed through Consulate General of India, Dubai during the current crisis of Covid 19 and till resumption of normal international civil aviation services between India and UAE.”

A second set of repatriation flights from the UAE to India is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. About 14,000 Indian citizens will board 81 charter flights to cities around India, including more than 50 to the Indian state of Kerala.

About 350,000 Indians applied to the embassy and consulate for help to return home, according to embassy officials.