Lahore (Web Desk) The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has cautioned Pakistani citizens about criminal networks operating across Southeast Asia that are deceiving job seekers with fraudulent employment offers. FIA Deputy Director Mehmood Ali Khokhar said the syndicates are active in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, predominantly targeting candidates in the IT and call center sectors with promises of high salaries.
Khokhar stated that individuals accepting these offers are coerced into illegal cyber and financial crimes once they arrive abroad. He added that those who refuse to participate face threats, violence or extortion involving their families. The FIA has urged citizens to verify all overseas job opportunities through authorized channels and report any suspicious contact to the agency.
The warning follows several rescue operations this year in which Pakistanis were recovered from fake call centers in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. In one major raid, authorities in Thailand and Cambodia freed 215 foreign nationals—including 50 Pakistanis—from a building allegedly used for cyber fraud. In a separate operation, the Thai army facilitated the escape of hundreds of workers from scam centers in Myanmar, including 38 Pakistanis who crossed into Thailand seeking safety.
According to officials, many victims are lured with attractive salaries before having their passports seized and being forced into financial scams, including “pig butchering” fraud schemes. Human trafficking networks across the region are believed to exploit hundreds of thousands of people annually through similar criminal operations.
In a related development, FIA Lahore Director Ali Zia visited Allama Iqbal International Airport to review immigration counters and assess passenger services. He directed staff to uphold professionalism, courtesy and transparency when dealing with travelers. Zia reiterated that the FIA will intensify its actions against human smuggling, illegal travel and fake visa operations.
