The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has issued an advisory for the Indian nationals travelling to Laos and Cambodia in search of employment to be cautious of the scam. The MEA said that fake agents are luring people for employment, which are scam especially involved in cyber crimes. The ministry urged Indians to be aware of such “fraudulent and exploitative job offers”, and to connect with Indian Embassy for any help or clarification.

Anybody who takes up a job in Cambodia are asked to do so only through authorised agents approved by the MEA of India. Reports about Indian being lured through such fraudulent methods have already emerged. Such employment opportunities are advertised for positions like Digital Sales and Marketing Executives, or Customer Support Service. These are reportedly organised by the organizations that operate call-center scams and crypto-currency fraud in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos.

Companies like these have agents based in various parts of the world including Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and India, who are actively recruiting Indian citizens. Companies are luring the candidates with attractive salary packages, hotel accommodations, return tickets, and assistance in visa processing. The recruitment process only involves straightforward interview and a typing test.

According to the MEA, after the so called recruitment, sometimes people are “taken hostages by criminal syndicates indulging in illegal activities and forced to work in strenuous conditions under constant physical and mental torture”.

The External Ministry also explained the visa processing in these countries. It said that the countries like Laos and Thailand does not permit employment for the on Arrival Visa. It said, “Visa on Arrival in Thailand or Laos does not permit employment and the Lao authorities so not issue work permits to Indian nationals coming to Laos on such visas”.

For clarification on job offers in Lao PDR, Indian nationals can contact the Indian Embassy at conu.vientianne@mea.gov.in. The Embassy of India, Phnom Penh provides assistance and clarification on job offers in Laos via email: cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in and yisa.phnompenh@mea.gov.in, said the External Ministry in its advisory.

Earlier, this year, reports emerged of over 5000 Indian citizens being held against their will on Cambodia. They were forced to carry out cyber crimes against people in India. As per media report, government estimates that the “fraudsters” have allegedly duped people in India of at least Rs 500 crore over the span of last six months.

The report said that those trapped in Cambodia are forced to extort money from people by pretending to be law enforcement officials, saying they had found suspicious materials in their parcel. The issue came out when Rourkela police in Odisha cracked down a cyber-crime syndicate on last December 30th. Eight people who were allegedly involved in taking people to Cambodia were arrested. Rourkela police officer said the case was taken on the basis of a senior Central government officer’s complaint who had been duped of over Rs 70 lakh. Recently, over 250 Indians were rescued and repatriated to India.