Portugal Job Scam: According to media reports, a alarming case of international human trafficking and employment fraud has emerged from Maharashtra, where a 28-year-old commerce graduate from Nagpur was allegedly lured with promises of a lucrative European job, extorted of ₹11 lakh, and trafficked to Portugal, where she was held captive and subjected to forced labor.
The Pune Police Crime Branch has launched a comprehensive investigation after an First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Airport (Vimantal) Police Station against eight individuals involved in operating an unauthorized recruitment agency.
The Lure: Social Media Advertising and False Promises
As per the FIR and media reports, the victim, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and lives with her family in Nagpur, began searching for career opportunities abroad in late 2025.
During her search, she came across an Instagram account belonging to an overseas recruitment consultancy operating under the name ‘We Migrate’.
The agency, which ran its office out of a commercial complex in Viman Nagar, Pune, actively promoted job placements in European countries such as Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
When the woman contacted the numbers provided on the social media handle, she was inducted into a messaging group.
Media reports state that in February 2026, the victim visited the consultancy’s Pune office along with her husband and mother-in-law.
Staff members allegedly claimed the firm was registered with the Ministry of External Affairs and showed fraudulent verification documents, temporary resident cards, and sample work visas to establish legitimacy.
The agency offered her a supermarket cashier and store worker position in Portugal, promising a monthly salary of ₹1.5 lakh, an eight-hour daily shift, two days off per week, and a three-year work permit.
Additionally, the agents assured her that her husband could join her on a dependent visa after three months. To secure the placement, the agents demanded ₹11 lakh to cover visa fees, processing charges, insurance, and airfare.
Believing the promises, the family prematurely closed their fixed deposits to pay the full amount in multiple installments.
The Traumatizing Reality in Portugal
Portugal Job Scam: According to police statements and media reports, the victim was directed to travel to Europe in May 2026 after completing biometric submission at a visa facility in Hyderabad. She was initially flown to Spain, from where local handlers transported her by road into Portugal.
Upon her arrival in Portugal, the situation drastically changed:
Confiscation and Captivity: The handlers immediately seized her passport and official travel documentation. She was confined inside a room for two days and forced to pay an additional €400 (approximately ₹40,000) under the pretext of getting her documents back.
Forced Labor and Exploitation: Rather than placing her in the promised supermarket role, she was transferred to Odemira, a town in southern Portugal. There, she was handed over to a local beer shop owner and housed alongside two other Indian women from Rajasthan and Haryana.
Abuse and Extortion: The victim was forced to work grueling 15-hour shifts from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM as a cleaning laborer at the establishment. When she protested, the employer allegedly informed her that the Pune agency had “sold” her to him and that she was required to follow his instructions.
The Escape and Subsequent Threats in India
Desperate for safety, the woman managed to covertly contact her husband in India to inform him of the situation. According to media reports, on June 29, 2026, she found an opportunity to flee the premises.
She boarded a bus to Lisbon and subsequently crossed the border to Madrid, Spain. After spending nights at transit stations and hostels, she secured a flight back to Delhi via Doha, returning home to Nagpur.
However, the ordeal did not end with her return. As reported by local news outlets, the operators of the fake consultancy continued to harass the victim via emails and phone calls.
The fraudsters demanded an additional ₹3 lakh under the pretext of arranging an alternative job in Malta. When she refused to comply, the accused allegedly threatened to kill her husband and frame her in false legal cases.