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Indian authorities have made a significant breakthrough by rescuing 283 citizens who were ensnared in cyber scam operations in Myanmar and Thailand. The majority of these individuals, primarily IT professionals, were deceived with offers of lucrative job opportunities, only to find themselves victims of a disturbing human trafficking and cyber fraud ring.
These individuals were coerced into running fraudulent investment and online scam operations aimed at defrauding people globally. Many faced captivity, torture, and threats of death if they did not comply with the demands of the criminal organizations overseeing these schemes.
Intelligence reports indicate that cyber scam centers in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region and the border areas of Thailand have emerged as hotspots for international fraud. These centers, typically managed by organized crime groups, lure tech-savvy individuals with false promises of legitimate work. Once trapped, victims have their passports confiscated and are compelled to engage in various financial fraud activities, including: Cryptocurrency fraud, Fake investment schemes and Phishing attacks targeting banks and individuals.
Numerous operations are connected to Chinese and Southeast Asian cybercrime syndicates, which maintain strict control over these centers.
Several rescued individuals shared chilling accounts of their ordeal. One victim, an IT engineer from Hyderabad, revealed how he was promised a data analyst job in Thailand, only to be trafficked to Myanmar. “They forced me to scam people. If I refused, they would beat me. I saw people getting electrocuted and starved,” he recounted.
Another victim, a software professional from India, Bengaluru described how his captors used armed guards to prevent escape. “We were monitored 24/7. Some who tried to run were brutally punished,” he said.
The Indian Embassy in Myanmar and Thailand, along with security agencies, put in significant effort to secure the release of nationals who were trapped. After weeks of diplomatic negotiations and covert discussions, Indian officials successfully rescued and returned 283 individuals, some of whom had been held for several months. This operation is part of a series of similar rescues in Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines, where cybercrime syndicates have taken advantage of numerous foreign workers.
The Indian government has advised job seekers to thoroughly check employers, contracts, and visa information before going abroad. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also cautioned against accepting jobs in border regions of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, where these cybercrime networks are active. If you or someone you know is being targeted by such fraudulent job offers, report it immediately to the MEA, Indian Embassies, or local authorities.
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