FIA Warns Pakistanis of Fake Overseas Job Scams

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has warned that criminal syndicates across Southeast Asia are luring Pakistanis with fake job offers, particularly in the IT and call-centre sectors.

FIA said the groups operate in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, promising high salaries and rapid employment to prospective recruits.

FIA Deputy Director Mehmood Ali Khokhar told officials many Pakistanis who travel on the basis of these offers are forced into cyber and financial crimes upon arrival.

Khokhar said traffickers commonly seize victims’ passports, subject them to threats, and extort money from families when recruits refuse to cooperate.

He urged all job seekers to verify any overseas employment offer through official channels and to report suspicious activity to the FIA before making travel plans.

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He warned that seemingly lucrative job offers could become nightmares and noted the agency launched a public awareness campaign after multiple cases.

Earlier this year, Thai and Cambodian authorities rescued 215 foreign nationals from a major scam hub, including 50 Pakistanis.

In a separate development, 38 Pakistanis fled to Thailand during an army crackdown on scam centres in Myanmar, while 60 others remain in shelters awaiting verification.

The FIA said victims are frequently trafficked into networks and forced into large-scale cyber fraud, highlighting the need for caution before travelling.