London, (Shahzad Ali) __ This development exemplifies the continued collaboration between the United Kingdom and India to safeguard individuals from deceptive practices and to address the issue of illegal migration.

The campaign was inaugurated during the visit of the UK Minister for the Indo- Pacific, Seema Malhotra, to India, where she observed how joint efforts between the UK and India are assisting in protecting individuals from exploitation, financial loss, and emotional distress, while also reducing the number of unauthorised entrants into the United Kingdom.

The initiative in Tamil Nadu will feature a Tamil- language WhatsApp chatbot and community engagement sessions designed to assist citizens in recognising scams and obtaining accurate visa information. This expansion follows the success of a pilot campaign currently active in the Punjab region of northern India.

This campaign underscores the persistent momentum of the UK- India partnership, working collaboratively to protect vulnerable populations and enhance border security. It aligns with the UK–India Vision 2035, an agreement that commits to combating exploitation by criminal organisations and decreasing irregular migration.

During the event, Minister Seema Malhotra gave a speech. On the WhatsApp chatbot, she said:

You will see the WhatsApp number for our new bespoke chatbot. Information that can be there readily, available when you need it, from authoritative UK visa department resources. So that people can access the right information and identify the warning signs of visa fraudsters.

On the partnership between the UK and India to tackle visa fraud, she said:

We want the message to be out there and the message to be clear, please stay safe. Don’t risk your dreams or your savings. Protect yourself from those criminals behind visa fraud, and all the risks associated with it.

In conclusion, she expressed her gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Government of India, the NRT Welfare Department, and the Anna Library for their partnership and support in launching this significant campaign.