Indian police have arrested a man accused of running a fake embassy out of a rented bungalow while claiming to be the ambassador of fictional countries like Westarctica.
Harshvardhan Jain, 47, was taken into custody by Uttar Pradesh’s Special Task Force after officers raided the bogus diplomatic outpost in Ghaziabad. Authorities say Jain scammed victims by promising overseas jobs and diplomatic privileges, relying on forged documents and doctored photos to appear legitimate.
Inside the fake embassy, officers found a stash of counterfeit diplomatic passports, forged stamps from 34 countries, fake seals of India’s foreign ministry, four luxury cars with fake diplomatic license plates, and 4.5m Indian rupees (around $50K USD) in cash. Police also uncovered high-end watches and photo props Jain allegedly used to bolster his persona, including edited images of himself with world leaders.
Man arrested after running fake embassy for made-up countries
According to STF officer Sushil Ghule, Jain claimed to act as an ambassador or adviser to several unrecognized micronations. He’s also suspected of laundering money through shell companies operating in the UK, Mauritius, Dubai, and parts of Africa.
To appear authentic, Jain flew the flags of fake nations outside his rented property and parked luxury vehicles in front to sell the illusion to unsuspecting victims. Police have not confirmed how long the scam had been operating, but say it was carefully staged to fool those unfamiliar with international diplomacy.
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