47 Indians rescued from ‘cyber scam centres’ in Laos
- In Reports
- 10:26 PM, Aug 31, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Indian embassy in Laos announced on Saturday that 47 Indians who had been trapped in cyber scam centres in Bokeo province have been rescued. The embassy further stated that it has successfully rescued a total of 635 Indians from similar situations and assisted in their return to India.
Indian authorities have urged citizens to be cautious of “fake job offers” in Laos, stressing the importance of thorough verification to prevent becoming victims of scams.
The Indian Embassy in Laos recently issued a statement confirming the successful rescue of 47 Indians who had been trapped in cyber scam centres 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 the statement, embassy officials travelled from the capital, Vientiane, to Bokeo to coordinate with local authorities for the rescue of the Indian citizens. Upon their return to Vientiane, the Indian Ambassador to Laos, Prashant Agrawal, met with the group to discuss the challenges they had encountered and to provide guidance on the next steps.
The embassy stated that all procedural requirements for their repatriation to India have been completed. Out of the 47 rescued individuals, 30 have already returned or are en route, while the remaining 17 are awaiting final travel arrangements and will depart from Laos shortly.
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 on Saturday, the Indian Embassy called on the Laotian government to take action against the unscrupulous individuals involved.
The Embassy has issued a stern advisory to Indian nationals considering job offers in Laos, urging them to exercise caution and conduct thorough checks to avoid falling prey to scams.
The advisory, available on the Embassy's website, offers detailed guidance and urges individuals to reach out to the Embassy if they have any doubts.
The embassy's statement said that Agrawal stressed that "ensuring safety and well-being" of Indian nationals is a top priority for the Embassy. Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raised the issue of Indian national trafficking with Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone during his visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
In the same month, the Indian embassy in Laos rescued 13 Indians who had been lured into cyber scam centres in the country and facilitated their return to India.
Image source: X
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