𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞

…𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒅𝒖𝒃𝒂𝒊-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒆

By Kezang Choden

In a concerning development, two individuals, Dorji and Tshewang Dorji, have separately reported incidents of deceptive practices allegedly involving Ugyen Dhendup. Dorji filed his complaint on June 4, while Tshewang Dorji followed suit on June 11 at the North Police Station in Jungzhina, under the jurisdiction of the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP). Concurrently, in Samdrupjongkhar, Tshering Dorji, Tshering Wangchuk, and Karma also brought forward similar allegations against Ugyen Dhendup, a resident of Paro Dzongkhag currently residing in Dubai. A total of 15 victims have now stepped forward, each sharing their experiences and lodging grievances related to these incidents.

Sonam, one of the victims, disclosed her encounter with Ugyen Dhendup through TikTok. She recounted her initial difficulty in assessing his character, as he claimed to be employed in Dubai and promised lucrative job opportunities through a health and fitness company. Allegedly, Ugyen Dhendup instructed each victim, including Sonam, to deposit Nu.37,000 for necessary documentation to proceed with the employment process. Furthermore, he directed her to recruit additional candidates for the job, perpetuating the deceptive scheme through social media channels and the Botim app.

Namgyel Wangmo, another victim, shared her ordeal, saying, “My mother-in-law helped me deposit Nu.37,000 for me and my husband. As we belong to a middle-class background, she borrowed money from others to support us. She did all the expenses with the hope of going abroad and making our lives stable in the future. Now we are in bad situations and don’t know how to repay all that money.” She further stated that Ugyen Dhendup used them as a stepping stone to earn easy money.

Adding to the distressing narrative, Sonam Dema, another victim, recounted her devastating experience. She said, “I left my stable job believing in that man’s false promises and entrusted my home to others. Currently, I am staying with my sister, desperately searching for employment while needing to care for my daughter. I had to borrow money from my sister with a promise to repay in installments once I find work.” Expressing her deep distress, Sonam Dema continued, “I have lost all hope of recovering my money. This situation is causing me immense mental anguish.”

Several victims have chosen to remain silent, fearing they will never recover their losses from Ugyen Dhendup. It has come to light that he allegedly sent fake confirmation and offer letters through various social media platforms, deceiving the victims. Some individuals even made multiple trips to Paro Airport, only to be turned away with excuses such as inclement weather or other purported issues, leaving them deeply disappointed.

The repercussions of these fraudulent actions have left many victims feeling deeply upset and betrayed. Ongoing misunderstandings exacerbate their emotional turmoil, highlighting the severe impact of Ugyen Dhendup’s deceitful scheme on their lives and livelihoods.

In a distressing account unfolding over nearly four months, victims of an alleged investment scam involving Ugyen Dhendup have shared troubling accounts of broken promises and unsettling threats. Instead of receiving the returns promised to them, these individuals recounted facing repeated delays in deadlines and receiving distressing messages, including purported suicide notes sent to Dhendup’s family. According to the victims, their hopes of recovering their investments have been systematically shattered by Dhendup’s tactics.

Expressing their deep disillusionment, the victims voiced skepticism about ever recovering their money but have bravely chosen to speak out to prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes. They accentuated the critical importance of awareness and vigilance against fraudulent practices targeting unsuspecting individuals seeking genuine investment opportunities. The unfolding revelations highlight the need for stringent measures to safeguard against such deceptive tactics and support those affected by financial fraud.

In a recent statement, Lieutenant Kinzang Namgay of the Royal Bhutan Police in Samdrupjongkhar emphasized that multiple victims, including Tshering Dorji, Ngawang Peljor, Karma, Sonam Yangki, and Dorji Jamtsho, were allegedly ensnared in a deceptive job offer promising positions at “Binous Healthy Food,” a Dubai-based company. The scheme reportedly began when Tshering Dorji learned about job openings through his ex-girlfriend. On December 23, 2023, Ugyen Dhendup, one of the alleged perpetrators, purportedly sent offer letters to the victims, directing them to deposit Nu.35,000 each into a Bank of Bhutan (BOB) account held by Karma Namgay.

Driven by the apparent legitimacy of the opportunity, Tshering Dorji and Karma promptly made their deposits on December 25. Subsequently, Sonam Yangki, introduced to Ugyen Dhendup by Tshering Dorji, followed suit and deposited Nu.35,000 into the same account on December 27, 2023. “On December 28, Ugyen Dhendup informed us that Karma could not proceed due to passport issues, and he sought a replacement,” explained Ngawang Peljor, one of the victims who then deposited Nu.35,000 on December 30, as instructed. The deception continued with further promises and false updates. “On January 6, 2024, Ugyen Dhendup informed us of another setback, claiming a candidate was hospitalized and unable to travel,” recounted Tshering Wangchuk. “I recommended a replacement, and on January 7, 2024, I deposited Nu.35,000 into Karma Namgay’s account.” Dorji Jamtsho, recommended by Tshering Wangchuk, deposited Nu.35,000 on January 17, 2024, reassured by promises of job prospects. However, the victims’ hopes were shattered after January 30, 2024, when Ugyen Dhendup ceased communicating, leaving them stranded without visas or the promised documents.

According to the victims ensnared in these schemes, perpetrators organize into groups on TikTok and other social media platforms, posing as intermediaries offering lucrative overseas job placements. Exploiting the trust of users, these groups persuade individuals to lend money or make donations in exchange for promised benefits that ultimately fail to materialize. The deceptive tactics involve compelling narratives and convincing strategies, deceiving victims into parting with substantial amounts of money under false pretenses.

Numerous victims have bravely come forward, recounting their traumatic ordeals of falling prey to these schemes. Many believed they were securing genuine employment opportunities or contributing to charitable causes, only to discover they had been manipulated and left financially and emotionally devastated.
Ugyen Dhendup, currently based in Dubai, has declined to address allegations linking him to a recent scam that has affected numerous victims. When contacted via WhatsApp for a statement, Dhendup simply replied, “I don’t have anything to say or share on this topic.” His lack of response leaves many questions unanswered as the investigation into the matter progresses.

North Thimphu Police and Samdrupjongkhar Police have confirmed that investigations into the recent deceptive practices allegedly orchestrated by Ugyen Dhendup and Karma Namgay are ongoing. Authorities have issued arrest warrants for them as part of their commitment to resolving the case and ensuring justice for the victims. Emphasizing the importance of vigilance, law enforcement agencies urge the public to exercise caution when engaging with online offers, advising thorough verification of claims before committing financially.

Meanwhile, the Royal Bhutan Police have issued an arrest warrant for Ugyen Dhendup, and the cause is under further investigation.
The Officials also stress the need for individuals to conduct comprehensive research and utilize official channels for job opportunities, refraining from transferring money or divulging personal information to unfamiliar sources. As efforts to uncover and address these fraudulent activities, authorities encourage anyone who has encountered similar deceptive practices to report promptly. Collaborative initiatives are in place to combat such schemes and safeguard the community from further exploitation.
The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies, contributing to collective efforts to combat online fraud and protect individuals from deceptive practices.