Punjab Cracks Down on Illegal Overseas Job Advertisements

Twenty-five travel agents in Punjab have been booked for illegally advertising employment opportunities on social media. These agents, flagged by the Protector of Emigrants, were found to lack the necessary licences. The police have registered 20 FIRs across multiple districts. Citizens are urged to verify agent credentials.

Twenty-five travel agents in Punjab have been booked for illegally advertising employment opportunities on social media, according to police statements released on Wednesday.

The action follows an alert from the Protector of Emigrants under the Ministry of External Affairs, which flagged these dubious advertisements on social media for jobs in foreign countries.

Additional Director General of Police (NRI Affairs) Praveen K Sinha stated that these agencies advertised jobs abroad without the essential licences and permissions. 'We checked the online platforms, verified their credentials covertly, and registered FIRs against them,' he said. Twenty FIRs have been filed under the Emigration Acts in several NRI police stations in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, and SAS Nagar.

This operation targeted illegal travel agents luring unsuspecting youths with overseas job promises, ultimately extorting their or their parents' hard-earned money. Further investigation is ongoing.

Sinha advised citizens to exercise caution and thoroughly verify the credentials of travel agents before handing over important documents and money.

(With inputs from agencies.)