Victim of Job Scam: Indian Man Shot Dead at Jordan-Israel Border

Mon Jun 15 2026 09:29:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Family claims Thomas Gabriel Perera lured into dangerous job search, raising concerns over migrant worker safety.

Thomas Gabriel Perera, 47, was shot dead by Jordanian forces as he attempted to illegally cross into Israel, allegedly falling victim to a job scam that deceived him and his brother-in-law into seeking work in another country.

The family of Thomas Gabriel Perera, an Indian man recently killed while trying to cross from Jordan into Israel, has revealed he was misled by a fraudulent job scam. On February 10, Perera was shot by Jordanian security forces near the border after he and his brother-in-law, Edison Charlas, were led to believe they could find lucrative employment in Israel.

Perera, 47, from Kerala, was promised high-paying jobs in Jordan, which led him to travel there with Charlas. However, upon their arrival in Amman, they discovered that no jobs were available, and the agent who facilitated their travel suggested they attempt to cross into Israel illegally, claiming better employment prospects.

“We paid a total of 210,000 rupees and additional expenses for the travel, only to find ourselves stranded,” said Charlas, who was injured during the incident. He recounted their dangerous journey to the border, emphasizing the lack of warning before they were shot at. “They just shot,” he insisted, contradicting claims made by authorities that the guards had issued a warning.

Charlas recounted the harrowing experience of being shot while walking in darkness and losing consciousness. After being treated for his injuries, he was imprisoned for around two weeks before being repatriated to India on February 28. Meanwhile, Perera's body remains in Jordan as authorities work through the process of returning it to his family.

Indian officials, including Randhir Jaiswal from the foreign ministry, confirmed they are in the process of repatriating Perera’s remains. Shashi Tharoor, a local Member of Parliament, stated that the Indian embassy has verified the victim’s identity and initiated the transportation of his body.

This tragic incident highlights an ongoing issue of South Asian migrant workers falling victim to job scams and risking illegal crossings in search of better prospects. Observers note that many Indians are misled into believing they can find work in neighboring countries after being promised high salaries by unscrupulous agents.

Despite repeated government warnings about the dangers of such scams, many individuals continue to fall prey to the allure of better opportunities abroad, showcasing the urgent need for increased awareness and protective measures for migrant workers from India.