NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has issued an advisory for Indian nationals travelling to Laos and Cambodia in search of employment to be cautious of scams.
The ministry said that these fake agents are luring people for employment. “All Indian nationals who are traveling for jobs in Cambodia and the Southeast Asian region, are advised that there are many fake agents operating in the region, who along with agents in India, are luring people to scam companies, involved especially in cyber crimes.Anybody who takes up a job in Cambodia should do so only through authorised agents approved by the Ministry of External Affairs of India,” the ministry said in the statement.
Instances of people being lured through these fraudulent methods have already emerged. According to the advisory, Fraudulent employment opportunities are being advertised for positions like ‘Digital Sales and Marketing Executives’ or ‘Customer Support Service’ by suspicious organizations operating call-center scams and crypto-currency fraud in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos. These companies have agents based in various locations, including Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and India, who are actively recruiting Indian citizens.
The recruitment process involves a straightforward interview and a typing test, and the companies are luring candidates with attractive compensation packages, hotel accommodations, return air tickets, and assistance with visa processing. After “recruitment”, people “at times are taken hostages by criminal syndicates indulging in illegal activities and forced to work in strenuous conditions under constant physical and mental torture,” the MEA warned.
The ministry then explained the visa process for these countries stating that, “Visa on Arrival in Thailand or Laos does not permit employment and the Lao authorities do not issue work permits to Indian nationals coming to Laos on such visas.” Thus, Indian nationals are urged by MEA to be cautious of such “fraudulent or exploitative job offers” while carefully verifying the details and get in touch with the Indian Embassy for any help or clarification.
The ministry said that these fake agents are luring people for employment. “All Indian nationals who are traveling for jobs in Cambodia and the Southeast Asian region, are advised that there are many fake agents operating in the region, who along with agents in India, are luring people to scam companies, involved especially in cyber crimes.Anybody who takes up a job in Cambodia should do so only through authorised agents approved by the Ministry of External Affairs of India,” the ministry said in the statement.
Instances of people being lured through these fraudulent methods have already emerged. According to the advisory, Fraudulent employment opportunities are being advertised for positions like ‘Digital Sales and Marketing Executives’ or ‘Customer Support Service’ by suspicious organizations operating call-center scams and crypto-currency fraud in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos. These companies have agents based in various locations, including Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and India, who are actively recruiting Indian citizens.
The recruitment process involves a straightforward interview and a typing test, and the companies are luring candidates with attractive compensation packages, hotel accommodations, return air tickets, and assistance with visa processing. After “recruitment”, people “at times are taken hostages by criminal syndicates indulging in illegal activities and forced to work in strenuous conditions under constant physical and mental torture,” the MEA warned.
The ministry then explained the visa process for these countries stating that, “Visa on Arrival in Thailand or Laos does not permit employment and the Lao authorities do not issue work permits to Indian nationals coming to Laos on such visas.” Thus, Indian nationals are urged by MEA to be cautious of such “fraudulent or exploitative job offers” while carefully verifying the details and get in touch with the Indian Embassy for any help or clarification.