Chandigarh, Cyber Crime Branch of Punjab Police arrested two travel agents for involvement in illegal human trafficking from the state to Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, the Director General of Police (DGP) said on Wednesday. , Gaurav Yadav.
Those arrested have been identified as Amarjeet Singh, the owner of Visa Palace Immigration in Mohali, and his accomplice Gurjodh Singh, an official statement said.
The arrested travel agents were sending innocent people from Punjab to Cambodia, promising them lucrative jobs as data entry operators.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap in Cambodia, their passports were taken away and they were then forced to work in "cyber scam" call centers to target Indians and commit cyber financial frauds, the statement said.
Yadav said that following the statement of a victim, who managed to escape from Cambodia after contacting the Indian Embassy in Cambodia, the state cyber crime police station registered a first information report (FIR) and started investigations into this case.
A case under relevant provisions of the law and the Immigration Act has been registered at the state cyber crime police station, the statement said.
He said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused fraudulently sent many people to Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, where they were forced to work in centers dedicated to cyber-swindling Indians.
"The details of people involved in cyber slavery are being obtained and contacts are being established with them and their families," he added.
Meanwhile, DGP Additional Cyber Crime Branch V Neeraja said State Police Cyber Crime teams led by inspector Deepak Bhatia raided Visa Palace immigration office and arrested the two accused.
He said the accused have further revealed that they were carrying out illegal activities in connivance with other officers belonging to different states. Further investigation is being carried out to identify other travel agents and their accomplices to nab them, he said.
The ADGP urged citizens to be aware of these fraudulent immigration activities and not to fall victim to false promises by travel agencies offering lucrative job opportunities abroad.
It is also recommended that background checks of the prospective employer be thoroughly verified, especially when job is offered in the name of 'data entry operator', and that the prospective employer should not undertake any illegal cyber activities and contact the Indian Embassy, he added.
Meanwhile, as per the statement, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India has also set up Overseas Workers Resource Center (OWRC) as a single window facilitation centre, to provide necessary support services to the people who wish to go abroad in search of employment. purposes.
“The OWRC currently operates a 24/7 helpline, 1800113090, to provide need-based information to migrants and their families through a toll-free number.
“If any other person from the state of Punjab has fallen victim to this alleged scam, the person can call the State Cyber Crime Division, Punjab helpline number 0172-2226258 for further assistance through the Ministry of Affairs New Delhi," he said.
Those arrested have been identified as Amarjeet Singh, the owner of Visa Palace Immigration in Mohali, and his accomplice Gurjodh Singh, an official statement said.
The arrested travel agents were sending innocent people from Punjab to Cambodia, promising them lucrative jobs as data entry operators.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap in Cambodia, their passports were taken away and they were then forced to work in "cyber scam" call centers to target Indians and commit cyber financial frauds, the statement said.
Yadav said that following the statement of a victim, who managed to escape from Cambodia after contacting the Indian Embassy in Cambodia, the state cyber crime police station registered a first information report (FIR) and started investigations into this case.
A case under relevant provisions of the law and the Immigration Act has been registered at the state cyber crime police station, the statement said.
He said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused fraudulently sent many people to Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, where they were forced to work in centers dedicated to cyber-swindling Indians.
"The details of people involved in cyber slavery are being obtained and contacts are being established with them and their families," he added.
Meanwhile, DGP Additional Cyber Crime Branch V Neeraja said State Police Cyber Crime teams led by inspector Deepak Bhatia raided Visa Palace immigration office and arrested the two accused.
He said the accused have further revealed that they were carrying out illegal activities in connivance with other officers belonging to different states. Further investigation is being carried out to identify other travel agents and their accomplices to nab them, he said.
The ADGP urged citizens to be aware of these fraudulent immigration activities and not to fall victim to false promises by travel agencies offering lucrative job opportunities abroad.
It is also recommended that background checks of the prospective employer be thoroughly verified, especially when job is offered in the name of 'data entry operator', and that the prospective employer should not undertake any illegal cyber activities and contact the Indian Embassy, he added.
Meanwhile, as per the statement, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India has also set up Overseas Workers Resource Center (OWRC) as a single window facilitation centre, to provide necessary support services to the people who wish to go abroad in search of employment. purposes.
“The OWRC currently operates a 24/7 helpline, 1800113090, to provide need-based information to migrants and their families through a toll-free number.
“If any other person from the state of Punjab has fallen victim to this alleged scam, the person can call the State Cyber Crime Division, Punjab helpline number 0172-2226258 for further assistance through the Ministry of Affairs New Delhi," he said.
