Pakistani diplomats based in Myanmar and Thailand have warned individuals seeking jobs in Southeast Asia of scams following the abduction of a Pakistani youth in the Southeast Asian country.

In their message, they revealed the existence of smuggling camps near the borders of Myanmar and Laos, where over 200,000 individuals, including Pakistanis, were being held captive.

They added that such detainees are coerced into participating in online scams. They are lured through online advertisements with promises of high-paying jobs and are provided with airline tickets and visas. Once they arrive at designated locations, they are subsequently transferred to such camps.

Diplomats urged job seekers to remain vigilant and verify any job offers to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and exploitation.

The warning message further stated that some Pakistanis in Gulf countries fall victim to fraud, with affected individuals being forced to work 18-hour days for as little as $200 a month. Victims are reported to have faced violence for refusing to work and those who decline are often denied food.

Immediate access to such camps by embassies is not possible, according to the message, making it challenging to provide urgent assistance to victims.

The ambassadors cautioned that if individuals receive job offers in Thailand, Laos, or Myanmar, they should verify the legitimacy of these offers before boarding a flight. Confirmation can be sought via the emails [email protected] and [email protected].