The family of Thomas Gabriel Perera, who was shot while illegally crossing into Israel, revealed that he tragically fell victim to a job scam. Perera succumbed to injuries inflicted by Jordanian security forces near the Israeli border on February 10. According to his family, the 47-year-old from Kerala was promised a lucrative job, which never materialized, leading him to attempt entering Israel in search of work.
Perera had traveled to Jordan accompanied by his brother-in-law Edison Charlas, who was also injured during the incident. Charlas, after receiving medical treatment, was detained for two weeks before being deported back to India. Both men worked as auto-rickshaw drivers in Kerala and had been lured by an agent offering jobs earning 350,000 rupees (approximately $4,000) a month.
Charlas disclosed to the BBC that he paid 210,000 rupees upfront to the agent, plus another $600 after arriving in Jordan on a tourist visa. Upon their arrival in Amman, they were left disappointed when the agent informed them no jobs were available, instead suggesting they illegally cross into Israel for better opportunities.
On the fateful night of February 10, Charlas and Perera, alongside others, undertook a long car journey to the Jordan-Israel border, which ended with their harrowing trek along a dark coastline. According to Charlas, the group was shot at without any prior warning, a claim that contradicts an Indian embassy letter stating security forces had attempted to issue a warning before opening fire. Tragically, Perera was struck in the head, dying instantly.
Following the incident, Charlas was hospitalized and subsequently imprisoned for 18 days, during which he managed to contact his wife, prompting intervention from the Indian embassy. Perera’s remains remain in Jordan, while India's foreign ministry is working to facilitate their return, with assurances of completion in a few days.
The case has drawn scrutiny to the prevalence of job scams targeting Indians seeking better wages abroad. Observers note that many continue to ignore government warnings against these schemes. The Kerala government’s migration department confirmed the rising dangers of entering neighboring countries illegally under false pretenses.
Reportedly, hundreds of Indians have been deceived and trafficked to exploitative environments in Southeast Asia under similar pretenses, and a growing number have been drawn into conflict zones through fraudulent job offers. The desperation for improved livelihoods drives many to take extraordinary risks, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and stringent actions against such scam operations.
