Five taken for a ride (to Italy)

It isn’t a new story anymore, of Bhutanese wanting to mint dollars working in another country.

This time it was to be in Italy, and it never happened. Instead the 32-year-old woman who had promised a visa to Italy and instant employment once there just about disappeared.

The four prospective travellers had paid the con woman Nu 50,000 each and an additional Nu 97,000 each was to be paid. One had paid a little less as she happened to be the woman’s cousin. That was almost a year back.

When things didn’t happen, the group of five became suspicious. They sought the woman out and asked for refund, andafter a relentless game of hide and seek she paid back the three of them.

“Only after we threatened her with police action did she refund us,” said one of them.

The con woman’s cousin had introduced the other four to the idea of work and life in Italy saying she had worked there earlier. They were promised employment for a Khenpo (Buddhist master) living in Italy.

“She said working in Italy was easy,” said Karma, one of the duped individuals. “And she continuously gave false hopes saying things are shaping up good.”

They often recharged her cell phone because she said she had to call Italy constantly to check their visas.She also showed them some documents but none of them knew how to read.

A year went by waiting for the good news, and themood soured. The three of them decided to forget Italy and ask their money back. At first the con woman refused to refundsaying she had already sent the money for processing the visas.
However, after a series of pleas she asked them to come to Thimphu and paid their money back.

“I had given her additional money and I do not know if I will get it back,” said Dechen, who is yet to get her money back.
When Observer called on the Italy dream weaver, she denied everything. “I do not even know these people,” she said.

But the group of five insistedthey did not want to report to the police because some got their money back and others still have hope.

People say this is just one of many such scamsthat go unreported because the deals are illegal and both parties could be penalised.

“One of my relatives spent more than Nu 150,000 for a visa that never materialised. In the end, he did not even get back his money,” said a Thimphu resident.

People who take money from others on the pretext of obtainingoverseas visas for them shall be charged for deceptive practice, according to the Penal Code of Bhutan.