In a significant crackdown, the Punjab Police’s Cyber Crime Division has arrested two Mohali-based travel agents for trafficking individuals from Punjab to Cambodia under the pretense of lucrative job opportunities. A case has been filed against Amarjeet Singh and his accomplice Gurjodh Singh, who owns Visa Palace Immigration, for duping innocent people. They promised their victims lucrative data entry jobs overseas but instead engaged them in cybercrime once they reached there.
The arrests were announced by the Punjab Director-General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday, who stressed that travel agents are using deceitful practices. The victims were tempted to agree by being promised well-paying tasks, but when they arrived at Siem Reap in Cambodia their passports were confiscated. After this, these victims were forced to work inside cyber scam call centres bent on defrauding Indian nationals.
The arrest followed a complaint from a victim who managed to escape from Cambodia and contacted the Indian embassy for assistance. Based on the victim’s statement, the State Cyber Crime police station registered a First Information Report (FIR) and initiated an investigation into the case. Preliminary findings indicate that the accused had fraudulently sent numerous individuals to Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, where they were forced into cyber slavery.
DGP Yadav revealed that efforts are underway to identify and establish contact with other victims and their families. The investigation is also aimed at uncovering the network of accomplices involved in these illegal activities. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Cyber Crime Division, V Neeraja, stated that police teams, led by Inspector Deepak Bhatia, conducted a raid at the Visa Palace Immigration office, resulting in the arrests.
The ADGP further noted that the accused admitted to collaborating with other agents from various states to carry out these fraudulent activities. The ongoing investigation aims to identify and arrest other travel agents and their associates who engaged in the same scam so that citizens avoid falling into the trap of unscrupulous agents using fake job offers abroad targeting people from South East Asia in particular.
The Ministry of External Affairs established the Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) as a single-window facilitation facility in an attempt to stop future exploitation. For people seeking details about opportunities to work overseas and the assistance and information they need, the OWRC has a hotline (1800113090) that is open 24/7. For victims of such frauds, the State Cyber Crime Division, Punjab, has also established a helpline (0172-2226258), providing further assistance through the Ministry of External Affairs.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for individuals to thoroughly verify the background of prospective employers, especially when offered jobs as data entry operators, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
