Lok Sabha Question No. 5541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Fraudulent Travel Agents
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kumari Selja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5541 ANSWERED ON- 04/04/2025 FRAUDULENT TRAVEL AGENTS

## 5541. KUMARI SELJA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the increasing exploitation of youth by fraudulent travel agents in the country especially in Haryana; (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to launch a comprehensive campaign to curb the activities of fraudulent travel agents;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e)   the   measures   proposed   to   be   taken   for   the   rehabilitation   and reintegration of the affected youth upon their return to India, including counselling, education, and employment support?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e) Ministry   is   aware   of   fraudulent   activities   by   some illegal/unscrupulous   recruitment   agents/agencies   in   the   country, including that in Haryana.

Ministry comes   to   know   about   fraudulent   activities of illegal/unscrupulous   recruitment   agents/agencies   in   the   country, including that in Haryana, as and when a complaint is filed by aggrieved emigrants or their relatives/friends who have been cheated by their employers.

As and when complaints of illegal migration/human trafficking are received, such matters are referred to the State police for investigation and prosecution under the relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya   Sanhita   (BNS)   and   other   legislation   in   place   including   that enacted by the State Governments. In the cyber domain, action is also taken against illegal recruiting agents in association with MHA and State Police authorities. Requests to take down social media posts of illegal recruiting agencies from all over India including Haryana have been regularly shared with MHA.

Ministry issues advisories through eMigrate portal, social media handles, and other modes of publicity about the perils of fake job rackets and ways to prevent the same. Till February 2025, a total of 3,281 illegal agents in country including in the State of Haryana, have been notified on the eMigrate portal. The awareness campaign on safe and legal migration through eMigrate portal has been carried out by the Ministry across   the   country   including   in   Haryana   by   conducting   workshops, trainings,   information   sessions,   digital   campaigns   for   media   groups, police   officials   and   law   enforcement   agencies,   local   administration, aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs and general public.

Ministry   regularly   coordinates   with   the   State   Governments including Haryana regarding issues of illegal agencies in the field of overseas employment and the ways to address challenges related to enforcement of Emigration Regulations. Videsh Sampark Programme is organized in collaboration with State Governments from time to time. The Ministry regularly organises outreach programs to sensitise various stakeholders about the benefits of safe and legal migration and suggests ways to prevent illegal migration through fake/unregistered recruitment agencies. In addition to the regular information sharing on unregistered recruiting agencies, regular meetings with the State level Nodal Officer are held. Regular workshops & training sessions are held by the Ministry

for   law   enforcement   agencies   of   the   State   Governments   in   which information on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Ministry, detection of unlawful content on social media, and case studies of Cyber Scamming are shared with the participants. *****