In a move aimed at safeguarding the state's youth from falling victim to illegal travel agents, Punjab Police’s NRI Affairs Wing and Cyber Crime Wing, in collaboration with the Protectorate of Emigrants, Chandigarh, on Wednesday launched a joint operation to tackle fraudulent travel agencies. As part of this operation, 25 unlicensed travel agents have been booked for illegally advertising employment opportunities abroad through social media platforms.

The crackdown was initiated after the Protectorate of Emigrants flagged multiple instances of dubious advertisements on Instagram and Facebook. These posts, which promised lucrative job offers in foreign countries, were found to be targeting vulnerable youth hoping to settle abroad.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) NRI Affairs, Praveen K Sinha on Wednesday said that these illegal travel agents were operating without the necessary licenses and approvals required under the Emigration Act, 1983. “These unscrupulous agents were luring unsuspecting individuals, particularly young people, with the promise of jobs overseas, despite lacking proper credentials. We covertly monitored their online activities, verified their legitimacy, and swiftly took legal action,” Sinha remarked.

The Punjab Police’s action offered a stark warning to those involved in fraudulent practices and a ray of hope to families who have fallen victim to such schemes.

As a result, 20 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered under sections 24 and 25 of the Emigration Act at various NRI Police Stations across Punjab. These FIRs were lodged in key districts such as Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, and SAS Nagar. The ADGP further revealed that investigations are ongoing to trace additional illegal agents involved in this scam.

The joint operation has uncovered a growing trend of unlicensed travel agents exploiting social media platforms to advertise fake job opportunities abroad. These agents often mislead hopeful candidates, extracting large sums of money with false promises of employment visas and overseas placements. Many of the victims, or their families, end up losing their life savings in the process.

In light of the increasing prevalence of such scams, ADGP Praveen K Sinha urged the public to remain vigilant when dealing with travel agents. He advised citizens to always verify the credentials of agencies before handing over any money or documentation. “People must ensure that they engage only with agencies that possess a valid Recruiting Agent (RA) license under the Emigration Act. Always ask for the license and double-check its authenticity before proceeding,” Sinha emphasized.

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Illegal Travel Agents booked: