Indian authorities have advised citizens to be wary of “fake job offers” in Laos and emphasized the need for careful verification to avoid falling victim to scams.
New Delhi: At least 47 Indians who were trapped in ‘cyber scam centers’, have been rescued from Bokeo province in Laos, the Indian embassy in the Southeast Asian nation said. So far, the Indian mission has assisted in rescuing 635 Indians from Laos and ensured their safe return home.
According to a statement from the Indian Embassy in Laos, the embassy recently successfully rescued 47 Indians caught in cyber scam centers within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bokeo province. “Of these, 29 were handed over to the Embassy by Laos authorities after their crackdown on illegal activities in Golden Triangle SEZ, while other 18 had approached the Embassy in distress, seeking help,” the embassy said on X, sharing the pictures of the rescued Indians.
According to an NDTV report, the scammers would impersonate women on dating apps to chat with potential victims. “After some time, they would convince the target to invest in cryptocurrency trading. Many were duped in India this way,” one of the rescued Indians was quoted as saying. The “cyber slaves” were deprived of food and rest if they failed to meet their daily targets, the report added.
In its statement, the Indian Embassy urged the Laos government to take action against the unscrupulous elements involved. It also issued a strong advisory to Indian nationals contemplating job offers in Laos, advising them to exercise caution and perform thorough checks to avoid falling victim to scams.
The embassy has completed all necessary procedures with the Laos authorities for their repatriation to India. The statement added that 30 of those rescued have already returned to India or are en route, while the remaining 17 are awaiting final travel arrangements and will be departing soon.
