Kerala NRI commission chairperson Justice Sophie Thomas has alerted people about overseas employment scams.

She highlighted that more than 75 complaints were received at the commission adalat – all related to visas, recruitment and financial fraud.

She asked people to be cautious while agreeing to take up jobs overseas. Job opportunities abroad must be considered only through licensed recruiting agencies, she said.

Families facing debt and income irregularities are desperate to send their children abroad, either for further studies or employment, hoping it would help them over time. Fake agencies and unauthorised legal advisory firms pitch in with their promises, alluring the innocent and siphoning off funds in the name of better prospects.

Fraudsters run away with compensation amounts due to the relatives of expatriates, who die or meet with accidents abroad. Thomas said that when giving a power of attorney, relatives should appoint only embassy-approved lawyers.

Through the NRI commission’s new website, expatriates can register complaints online. – Image credit: Freepik – editor@nrifocus.com