Rs.105.6 million compensation paid for victims of foreign job scams

October 25, 2024 at 12:08 PM

Victims of foreign job scams have been paid compensation of Rs.105.6 million during the first nine months of 2024, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

The SLBFE revealed that the compensation was paid following the prosecution of individuals and unregistered foreign employment agencies involved in overseas job scams.

According to the SLBFE, 570 cases were filed in Court against foreign employment fraudsters from January to September, while it had resolved 1,177 complaints out of the 3,351 that were received. 

The SLBFE’s Special Investigation Division conducted 19 raids leading to the arrest of 104 individuals, including representatives from 17 licenced employment agencies.

The public has been urged to remain vigilant of overseas job scams related to employment opportunities in Israel, South Korea, Japan, Romania, and Canada.

Urging the public to verify details prior to handing over cash to foreign employment agencies, the SLBFE also requested them to contact the Bureau’s hotline ‘1989’ regarding any overseas job scams. (Newswire)