Islamabad (TDI): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued a strong warning to Pakistanis about criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia that are luring them with fake job offers, particularly in the IT and call center sectors.
The agency cautioned that what may appear to be a lucrative opportunity could quickly turn into a nightmare. “Criminal groups operating in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia are targeting Pakistanis with fraudulent job offers promising high salaries. But upon arrival, many are forced into illegal activities, including cybercrime and financial fraud. Those who resist often face threats, violence, or extortion against their families,” FIA Deputy Director Mehmood Ali Khokhar said on Wednesday.
He urged job seekers to verify all overseas opportunities through legitimate channels or report suspicious activities to the FIA. “Beware of false promises! Your dream job offer could turn into a nightmare,” he emphasized, according to Dawn.
The FIA has been actively running awareness campaigns on social media after rescuing several Pakistanis from fake call centers across Southeast Asia.
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Earlier this year, Thai and Cambodian authorities raided a three-story building linked to a major cyber fraud operation. Authorities freed 215 foreign nationals, including 50 Pakistanis, along with Thais, Indians, Taiwanese, and Indonesians.
In a separate incident, a Thai military crackdown on scam centers in Myanmar led hundreds of trapped workers to flee into Thailand, including 38 Pakistanis. Another 60 Pakistanis were held in a shelter pending verification for repatriation.
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The FIA noted that many victims are deceived with promises of high-paying jobs, only to have their passports confiscated and forced into cyber and financial scams, including “pig butchering” fraud operations. Reports suggest hundreds of thousands are trafficked across Southeast Asia each year for such criminal networks.
