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FIA complaint against a fake agent: the evidence, numbers and steps Pakistani workers need

Tips · 2026-10-28 · 10 min read

To make an FIA complaint against a fake agent, collect every receipt, message and document the agent gave you, then report it to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) by email at complaints@fia.gov.pk, on the helpline 051-111-345-786 or 1991, or through its online portal at complaint.fia.gov.pk. You can also complain to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD): its Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BE&OE) says complaints against fake recruiting agents are referred to the FIA under Rule 29(4) of the Emigration Rules, 1979.

Who counts as a fake agent under Pakistani law

In Pakistan, only one kind of private agent may recruit you for work abroad: an Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP). BE&OE's FAQ defines an OEP as a person licensed by the Federal Government to recruit or assist people emigrating for work. Under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, anyone who wants to do that work must apply for an OEP licence, and the Director-General of BE&OE keeps a register of every licence holder.

So the "visa agent" who took your money is a fake agent, in BE&OE's words, if he is not a valid OEP. He may run a small office near the bazaar, a social media page or a WhatsApp number with a foreign flag in the profile picture. The label does not matter. The licence does.

Three sections of the Ordinance usually decide what kind of case you have:

• Section 9: no one other than the Overseas Employment Corporation may recruit Pakistani citizens for emigration, advertise jobs, or hold interviews or tests for them without the prior permission of the Director-General or the area's Protector of Emigrants.
• Section 22: a person who is not an OEP and demands or receives money for providing foreign employment, or an OEP who charges more than the prescribed amount, can face imprisonment of up to fourteen years and a fine of up to two million rupees.
• Section 18: forging emigration documents, or getting someone to emigrate through coercion, fraud or wilful misrepresentation, carries the same maximum penalties.

Our earlier guide explains when paying money for a job abroad is lawful and when it is not. This post starts where that one ends: the money is gone, and you want to report it.

Which office handles which complaint

The FIA's Anti Human Trafficking and Smuggling Wing enforces the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018 and the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018. That makes it the agency that investigates the fake agent himself. OP&HRD is the ministry with administrative control of BE&OE, so it is the place to raise an emigration complaint, and BE&OE passes fake-agent cases to the FIA.

These contact details come from the FIA website and OP&HRD's Complaint Resolution System page, which also accepts complaints in person in Islamabad. Check both pages on the day you send anything, because numbers and addresses can change.

Collect your evidence before you call anyone

BE&OE's FAQ asks that a complaint against a fake agent include case details and supporting documents. A complaint with dates, amounts and names is far easier to act on than "he cheated me". Gather everything first, then make two copies: one to send and one to keep.

• Payment proof: bank transfer slips, mobile wallet screenshots, deposit receipts, or a written note of each cash payment with the date, place and who was present.
• Messages: WhatsApp chats, voice notes, SMS and emails. Export the full chat rather than cropping screenshots, so the dates stay visible.
• Who he is: the name he used, his phone numbers, office address, social media pages and any visiting card.
• What he promised: the "job offer", "visa" or "work permit" papers he gave you, and any advertisement he posted.
• Your own identity: a copy of your CNIC and passport, and the names of other victims if you know them.
• A timeline: one page listing, date by date, every meeting, payment and promise.

If he staged a "video interview" before asking for money, note the date and the number that called. Our list of fake interview scam red flags can help you describe exactly what happened.

How to file the complaint, step by step

1. Stop paying. Agents often ask for "one last fee" once you start asking questions. Do not send anything more, and do not hand over your original passport.
2. Check the licence. Search the agent's name on BE&OE's list of active OEP licences (beoe.gov.pk/list-of-oeps), or ask your local Protector of Emigrants office. Write down the result: "not on the list" is part of your evidence.
3. Write your complaint. Keep it to one or two pages: who you are, who the agent is, what he promised, what you paid and when, and what you are asking for (an investigation, and your money back if possible). Attach the evidence list.
4. Send it to the FIA. Use the online portal or email it to complaints@fia.gov.pk. If you cannot write it yourself, call 1991 and ask how to lodge it at the FIA office near you.
5. Copy OP&HRD. Email the same complaint to ds.complaint@ophrd.gov.pk or ac.complaint@ophrd.gov.pk, saying the agent is not a valid OEP so the case can be referred to the FIA under Rule 29(4).
6. Record every reference number. Note the date, the channel and the name of anyone you speak to. Follow up on the OP&HRD lines or the FIA helpline, and quote the reference each time.
7. Do not settle privately. Do not threaten the agent or accept a "deal" before you speak to the investigating officer. Save any new message he sends; it may become more evidence.

If you work in Riyadh or Dubai, the email and portal channels still work; the complaint should come from you, the person who paid.

When the agent posed as an Australian or New Zealand adviser

Many fake agents claim a link to a "registered agent in Sydney" or a "licensed office in Auckland". You can test those claims yourself.

In Australia, a registered migration agent has a Migration Agents Registration Number (MARN) and is listed on the Register of Migration Agents on the OMARA website. The Department of Home Affairs says someone claiming to be an agent without a MARN or an OMARA listing is not legitimate, and that anyone promising a visa, permanent residency or citizenship is misleading you. Its visa scams page also says Australia does not issue "work permits", so a paper titled "Australian work permit" is itself a sign of a scam. Keep that paper, and the false claims he made, for the FIA.

In New Zealand, anyone giving immigration advice must, by law, be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority unless exempt. Immigration New Zealand warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia, and says employers cannot charge you fees for a job, even indirectly through a third party.

After the complaint: back on a lawful route

A complaint can lead to an investigation, but no official page promises when, or whether, money will be returned. Do not let the wait push you towards a second agent who says he can "recover" your money for a fee. That is a common follow-up trick.

The safer path is to apply to employers directly. BE&OE's FAQ confirms that foreign jobs can be found through licensed OEPs or through direct employment, including via the internet. On JobsAbroad Pakistan every listed vacancy comes from an employer prepared to sponsor, and you apply to the employer by email or WhatsApp with your English CV and trade certificates. There is no fee to apply. You can browse current openings such as hair and beauty jobs or IT and technology jobs.

A clear CV also protects you: when your experience is written down properly, you do not need a middleman to "present" you. Build AI CV can help you turn your work history into an English CV that employers can read quickly.

Before you sign any new offer, read our checklist for a job offer letter from Australia. If anyone suggests flying out on a tourist visa to "find work there", see why a visit visa to work abroad breaks the Emigration Ordinance. Workers in India face the same problem: MigrateJobs lists five places Indian job seekers can report a fake overseas job agent.

Common mistakes when reporting a fake agent

• Waiting too long. Chats get deleted and agents change numbers. Report while the evidence is fresh.
• Sending only cropped screenshots. They lose dates and numbers. Export full chats and keep the originals on your phone.
• Accepting a private "settlement". A partial refund promised in exchange for withdrawing your complaint often never arrives in full.
• Hiring a second "agent" to chase the first. The official channels take complaints directly from you; you do not need a middleman.
• Not checking the OEP list first. Whether the agent is licensed changes how your complaint is handled, so check before you write.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FIA helpline number for a fake agent complaint?

The FIA lists its helpline as 051-111-345-786 and 1991. You can also email complaints@fia.gov.pk or use the online portal at complaint.fia.gov.pk to lodge a written complaint with your evidence attached.

Can I file an FIA online complaint from abroad?

The email address and the online portal can be used from anywhere, including the Gulf. Attach scanned evidence and give a phone or WhatsApp number where the investigating officer can reach you or your family.

Should I complain to OP&HRD or the FIA?

You can do both. BE&OE's FAQ says complaints against fake recruiting agents are referred to the FIA under Rule 29(4) of the Emigration Rules, 1979, so sending your complaint to the FIA and copying OP&HRD's complaint email keeps both offices informed.

What if the agent is a licensed OEP who overcharged me?

Section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance also covers a licensed OEP who charges more than the prescribed amount. Check the licence on BE&OE's active OEP list, keep your payment receipts and raise the complaint with OP&HRD and your Protector of Emigrants office.

Will I get my money back after the complaint?

No official page promises a refund or a timeline. The complaint starts an official process against the agent, and good evidence gives it the best chance. Treat anyone who charges you to "recover" the money as another scam.

Key takeaways

• A fake agent is anyone recruiting for work abroad who is not a valid, licensed OEP.
• Collect payment proof, full chats and a dated timeline before you complain.
• Report to the FIA by email, portal or helpline, and copy OP&HRD's complaint email.
• Fake-agent complaints sent to BE&OE are referred to the FIA under Rule 29(4).
• Do not pay anyone to "recover" your money; apply to sponsoring employers directly instead.

#fia complaint #fake agent #visa agent scam #ophrd complaint #emigration ordinance #pakistani workers