Scams and emergencies

Fake phone calls, fake rentals and who to call when things go wrong.

Scammers phone Indians in the Netherlands pretending to be the IND, the police, the embassy or the tax office. They threaten deportation or arrest and demand money, gift cards or bank details on the spot. Real authorities never do this. Hang up, pay nothing and call the authority's official number yourself.

Stay alert when looking for housing too: do not pay a deposit or rent before you have seen the home and the contract, and distrust landlords who are 'abroad'. Report scams to the Fraudehelpdesk and file a report with the police.

In immediate danger, call 112, the emergency number for police, fire brigade and ambulance. For a doctor outside office hours, call the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost) in your region. The Indian embassy in The Hague helps Indian citizens in distress, for example after losing a passport or a death.

Useful links

• Fraudehelpdesk fraudehelpdesk.nl
  Report scams and get advice.
• Dutch police politie.nl
  File a report; 112 in emergencies.
• IND ind.nl
  Warnings about fake calls and e-mails.
• Embassy of India, The Hague indianembassynetherlands.gov.in
  Consular help for Indian citizens.
• Veilig Thuis veiligthuis.nl
  Advice and help with domestic violence.