The Indian Embassy in Cambodia has rescued 60 Indian nationals who fell prey to fraudulent job offers in the country. The rescued people had reportedly reached out to the embassy for help on May 20.
The official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the embassy said the rescued individuals were being helped with travel documents and other arrangements for their early return to India. The victims, the embassy added, had been sent from Sihanoukville, a popular beach destination, to capital Phnom Penh on Monday.
The official website of the Indian Embassy in Cambodia has also issued guidelines for Indian job-seekers, asking them to stay cautious of “fake promises of lucrative job opportunities” in the country as they might fall prey to human traffickers. “It has come to attention that Indian nationals, lured by fake promises of lucrative job opportunities in Cambodia, are falling into the trap of human traffickers. These Indian nationals are coerced to undertake online financial scams and other illegal activities,” the advisory reads.
“Indian nationals intending to visit Cambodia for employment are cautioned to do so only through authorised agents. It is also advised that the background of the prospective employer in Cambodia is checked thoroughly,” it adds.
A joint advisory was also issued by the embassies in Cambodia and Laos for those travelling to the Southeast Asian countries for job opportunities.
The advisories also sought to emphasise that the purpose of tourist visas is tourism alone.
The May 17 advisory urged people to be aware of the significant risks associated with fraudulent job offers, and asked job-seekers to secure employment only through authorised agents approved by the Ministry of External Affairs. A helpline number and an emergency e-mail were also mentioned in the advisory.