Over 6,700 Indians have been rescued from fake job scams in Southeast Asia. Most of them were lured through social media by dubious recruitment agencies. The Indian government confirmed this in a recent session of Parliament.
According to Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, these scams often lead individuals to Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, where they are forced to participate in cyber crime and other illegal activities. While officials are aware of these incidents, the total number of people affected isn’t clear, as many travel to these countries through untrustworthy agents.
The government has raised these concerns with local authorities in the host countries and is actively working with various agencies for rescue and repatriation. The number of rescues to date includes 2,265 from Cambodia, 2,290 from Laos, and 2,165 from Myanmar.
The Indian government has established several channels to assist citizens abroad. They can reach out via email, phone, or social media if they find themselves in distress. This includes resources like the MADAD platform for support.
In response to rising cyber crime, the Ministry of Home Affairs set up the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to tackle these issues more effectively. The ministry regularly issues advisories to caution job seekers about fake offers. They encourage people to thoroughly check the legitimacy of recruiting agencies before accepting any job offers.
Recent data shows that between January 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025, around 16,127 complaints were filed by Indians living abroad. The top countries reporting distress cases included Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US.
As these scams grow, experts warn that the increase in job seekers looking for opportunities overseas, especially post-pandemic, makes individuals more vulnerable. Understanding the risks and exercising caution is crucial. For more information, the Ministry of External Affairs regularly updates its advisories and resources to help guide citizens.
For additional insights, you can check official resources on the Indian Ministry of External Affairs here.
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PDR, CENTRE IN RAJYA SABHA, MEA, SOCIAL MEDIA FRAUD, FAKE JOB OFFERS, THE GOVT SAID THOSE LURED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ARE MADE TO CARRY OUT CYBER CRIME
