KATHMANDU, Nov 26: More than 50 young people have fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme promising opportunities in the UK. The victims allege that Amrit Lama from Kavre exploited them, extorting millions of rupees by enticing them with promises of excellent services and high salaries in the UK. On Wednesday, the victims filed a complaint against Lama at the Department of Foreign Employment.
The duped youth mainly hail from Kavre. One victim from the region expressed, "I was assured by the allure of a foreign dream. People who work tirelessly day and night are now at the department. I easily fell into the trap of Lama's persuasive words. Currently, Lama is unreachable." The victim continued, "We fell prey to social media easily. I lost Rs 400,000. I had taken out a loan and handed over the money, dreaming of going to Britain. We have come to the department seeking justice; we are uncertain about what will happen."
The victims claim Lama extracted amounts ranging from Rs 150,000 to Rs 400,000 from the youths from Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Bhaktapur, Bara, and Baglung, while deceiving his fellow residents of Kavre. Lama allegedly assured them of a good salary in the UK—£10 per hour—and dismissed any concerns. The victims disclosed that Lama made up stories about having a nephew in the UK.
"Lama appeared very unassuming. We couldn't discern his true nature. He had a habit of charming everyone. Lama was popular among the 50-60 youths. He left no room for doubt among us. His persuasive speech was enticing. We don't know how we lost our money," said one victim.
Careful in life
According to the victims, Lama cut off contact with them before Dashain. They revealed that Lama frequently summoned them to rented rooms near Khasi Bazar in Kalanki, assuring them of immediate departure to Britain. "Lama, who promised we would fly to Britain before Dashain, has now compelled us to rush to the department after Tihar," said a victim from Makwanpur. "In that room opened in Khasi Bazar to send us to Britain, there were nothing but two sofas and a few chairs. Even while sitting in the same room, Lama used to gossip a lot. His speech was louder than that of a leader. Today, he is unreachable."
The victims expressed that Lama appeared genuine in his looks and speech. "How can you not believe him when 40-50 friends all give him money? Lama used to assure that those who contributed money would undoubtedly go to Britain. I also gave Rs 150,000," stated a victim, who also hails from Kavre.
It was not only Lama who deceived these young people but also his wife, Chameli Maya Singtang. Some deposited substantial amounts of money into Lama's bank account, as he pretended to offer opportunities in Britain, while many victims claimed to have deposited millions of rupees into the bank account of Lama's wife, Singtang.
Kabiraj Upreti, the information officer of the DoFE, stated that Lama collected funds under the guise of facilitating overseas employment but failed to fulfill his promises. Complaints have been lodged against Lama on the charge of taking exorbitant fees promising job opportunities in developed countries, and subsequently not sending individuals there.
Information Officer Upreti emphasized the need for discussion between the victims and perpetrators, aiming for a settlement. If both parties reach an agreement, the matter will be finalized; however, if the victims remain dissatisfied, they have the option to file a case. Advocate Som Luitel highlighted the rise in distortion within foreign employment due to many brokers and manpower entities prioritizing profits. Despite the introduction of the free visa and ticket system in 2072 BS by the Ministry of Labor, which limited service changes to Rs 10,000, manpower agents are reportedly charging workers more than 20 times that amount.
Luitel expressed concern about the lack of effective implementation of the free-visa provision, stating that fraud, forced labor exploitation, and trafficking could have been avoided with proper oversight. He noted that many victims are unaware of their legal rights.
According to Information Officer Upreti, the department has received numerous complaints, with approximately 44,500 complaints filed during the last fiscal year (FY 2022/23) related to foreign employment. Upreti noted that educated youths are more likely to be the victim than the uneducated ones, with a preference for Europe over Gulf countries. The influence of social media has led many Nepali youth, initially employed in the Gulf, to seek opportunities in Europe, resulting in increased vulnerability to fraud.
Upreti highlighted the importance of early awareness among individuals and their families to prevent fraud when seeking employment abroad. Additionally, cases of undocumented payments have been identified as contributing to fraudulent practices.
