MEA cautions public against Instagram accounts claiming foreign policy links

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday (July 5, 2026) issued a public advisory cautioning people against making payments to certain social media handles that advertise themselves as “foreign policy” and “public policy” experts and seek money from followers on Instagram. Official sources said a substantial number of Instagram handles claim to be active in the so-called “public policy domain”, adding that many such claims are “fraudulent”.

“It has come to the notice of the ministry that certain individuals on social media platforms are making posts suggesting that they are advising MEA on policy related matters including on trade, migration and other issues. Further these handles are also offering paid advice/sessions on how to work with MEA,” the MEA said in a social media announcement aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation.

An official familiar with the matter said the Ministry was prompted to issue the advisory after observing a trend in which individuals got themselves photographed at public events with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar or senior officials and foreign ambassadors during public engagements, and then used those photographs to generate “likes” and seek payments by claiming they could get work done in the MEA.

“These individuals have no connection to the Ministry and the Ministry urges all to be careful against such fraudulent posts on social media platforms,” the MEA said in the public announcement.

Officials studying the proliferation of Instagram handles related to foreign policy and geopolitics said the clarification was issued after it was noticed that some individuals were making money by claiming they could get work done in the MEA.

An official said that “just in case of the cyber scam centres in Myanmar that drew government’s attention once they started targeting common citizens, in the similar manner, certain social media accounts have attracted attention as they were asking for payments from social media followers on diplomacy or MEA-related issues and therefore the issue had to be flagged.”

The Hindu has learnt that the announcement was made without naming any social media handle, but that the individuals carrying out financial activities in the name of the MEA have been identified.