Federal Investigation Agency has warned Pakistanis about criminal syndicates operating in Southeast Asia, targeting citizens with fake job offers, particularly in the IT sector, call centers, and related fields. The FIA emphasized that many aspirants are lured by promises of high salaries but upon arrival, they are coerced into illegal activities including cyber and financial crimes. Those who resist may face threats, extortion involving family members, and in some cases, physical harm. FIA deputy director Mehmood Ali Khokhar advised individuals to thoroughly verify any job offers through legitimate sources or report suspicious activity to FIA.
The warning comes as part of a broader campaign by FIA after multiple incidents revealed Pakistanis being trapped in fake call centers across Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. In one operation this year, Thai and Cambodian authorities raided a three-story building suspected of major cyber fraud activities, rescuing 215 foreign nationals, including 50 Pakistanis, 109 Thais, 48 Indians, five Taiwanese, and three Indonesians. Another crackdown by Thai forces on scam centers in Myanmar led to hundreds fleeing into Thailand, among them 38 Pakistanis, while an additional 60 Pakistanis were sheltered and processed for repatriation.
Victims are typically deceived with the promise of lucrative employment, but upon arrival, their passports are confiscated, and they are forced to participate in illegal operations such as “pig butchering” scams. Reports suggest hundreds of thousands of individuals are trafficked across Southeast Asia annually for such cyber and financial scam operations. FIA has used social media campaigns to raise awareness, advising citizens to verify potential employment opportunities and remain vigilant against fraudulent recruiters operating in the region.
Meanwhile, FIA Lahore Director Ali Zia visited Allama Iqbal International Airport to review immigration counters and facilities for passengers. Officers at international arrivals and departures were instructed to maintain high standards of professionalism, courtesy, and transparency. Ali Zia reaffirmed FIA’s commitment to intensifying actions against illegal travel, fake visas, and human smuggling, emphasizing the agency’s ongoing operations to strengthen immigration processes in accordance with international standards and safeguard citizens from potential exploitation abroad.
This advisory by FIA highlights the continuing risks for Pakistani nationals seeking employment abroad without proper verification and underscores the importance of awareness, caution, and reporting of suspicious job offers to prevent forced involvement in criminal networks.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
