NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs has issued an advisory regarding “fake job rackets” targeting IT skilled youth. The advisory states that victims are reportedly taken across the border illegally mostly into Myanmar and held captive to work under harsh conditions. “Indian nationals are advised not to get entrapped in such fake job offers,” the advisory warns.
The ministry, in the advisory, has stated that it noticed that dubious IT firms involved in call-centre scam and crypto-currency fraud are running fake job rackets by offering lucrative jobs to entice Indian youths for the posts of digital sales and marketing executives in Thailand. These instances have been brought to the ministry’s notice recently by its missions in Bangkok and Myanmar.
The target groups are IT-skilled youth who are reached out through social media advertisements as well as by Dubai and India-based agents, the advisory mentioned.
“Indian nationals are advised not to get entrapped in such fake job offers being floated through social media platforms or other sources. Before travelling on tourist/visit visa for employment purposes, Indian nationals are advised to check/verify credentials of foreign employers through concerned Missions abroad, and antecedents of recruiting agents as well as any company before taking up any job offer,” it further stated.
This advisory comes after the MEA on Thursday asked Indian nationals to exercise extreme caution before taking up jobs in Thailand after dozens of Indians were illegally brought into Myanmar as part of the employment racket.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said IT companies are engaged in digital scamming and forged crypto activities. He said that these scammers are recruiting Indian workers on the pretext of employment opportunities in Thailand.
“We are aware of fraudulent IT companies that appear to be engaged in digital scamming and forged crypto activities. They seem to be operating with agents from Dubai, Bangkok and India. They are recruiting Indian workers on the pretext of employment opportunities in Thailand,” the MEA spokesperson said.
He explained that Indian workers are lured by social media advertisements of highly lucrative jobs and then taken across the border in Myawaddy.
“And that area you know is difficult to access due to the local security situation. Nevertheless, thanks to our mission in the country, we have been able to facilitate the rescue of some of these victims from captivity or forced labour and we are trying to help others,” he said.
On Friday, The foreign ministry had said that it has identified four companies involved in the job entrapment racket in Myanmar and is working on rescuing the Indians – about 100 to 150 men – who are still stranded there. So far the authorities have managed to rescue 32.
However, people from Hyderabad and Delhi who have managed to return told our sources that at least 500 Indians are believed to be trapped there. Every day, at least 10-20 Indians are brought to Myawaddy and Mae Sot.