Canadian High Commission warns of fraud using fake WhatsApp number

The Canadian High Commission in Pakistan has issued a public warning after a fraudulent WhatsApp number was found linked to its location on Google Maps, misleading people into paying money for fake appointment services.

In a clarification posted on X (formerly Twitter), the High Commission said that an individual using the name Rana Usman Khalid had added a fake contact number to the mission’s Google Maps listing and was demanding €250–€450 from applicants in exchange for arranging “appointments.”

The High Commission categorically stated that it does not charge any fees for appointments and does not use WhatsApp or any similar messaging service for scheduling.

It urged the public to contact the mission only through official email addresses and verified phone numbers available on the Government of Canada’s official website, travel.gc.ca.