Chandigarh: The Punjab Police have taken legal action against 25 travel agencies across the state for deceiving young people with false promises of job opportunities abroad. This crackdown, led by the NRI and Cyber Crime wings of the Punjab Police in collaboration with the Protectorate of Emigrants, Chandigarh, targets agencies that have been advertising fake employment opportunities on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

These agencies are accused of enticing individuals with assurances of “guaranteed” jobs in Western countries and Russia, often through dubious or non-existent documentation processes. A total of 20 FIRs have been filed under Sections 24/25 of the Emigration Act at various NRI police stations, including those in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, and SAS Nagar. The operation focused on agencies actively promoting fraudulent job schemes on social media and defrauding young people of their money.

ADGP Praveen K Sinha reported that these agencies were operating without the required licenses and permissions. “Our investigation included examining online platforms and verifying the credentials of these agencies. Following confirmation of their illegal activities, FIRs were lodged against them,” Mr. Sinha said, according to the Tribune.

This enforcement action comes in response to increasing incidents of travel agencies using illegal routes to send youths to Western nations or Russia, where some have been recruited to fight in the Ukraine war. ADGP Sinha has urged the public to be cautious and thoroughly verify the credentials of travel agents before sharing personal documents or making financial transactions.

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