How a Facebook Job Ad Lured Two Karnataka Men into a Myanmar Cyber Scam Camp
Two men from Karnataka who responded to a Facebook advertisement for overseas jobs were trafficked across three countries and held captive in a compound on the Myanmar-Thailand border, where they were allegedly forced to participate in cyber fraud. Their detailed statement to the police has shed light on how job seekers across India are being lured with promises of high-paying employment in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, or Cambodia, only to be coerced into running online scams.
On Tuesday, the Karnataka Cyber Command Unit confirmed that the two men from Kolar were rescued after a relative of one of the victims, who serves as a driver for a central government officer, raised an alarm. The men arrived in Bengaluru on Monday and recounted their harrowing experience of being trafficked, compelled to work for a cyber-scam company, punished for mistakes, and deprived of food.
In his statement to the police, a 32-year-old victim said he had completed schooling up to Class 12 and had four years of experience in the business process outsourcing sector. He had quit his job and was searching for new opportunities when a friend showed him a Facebook advertisement for an overseas job. 'We clicked on the link and filled in details such as our names, education qualifications, passport numbers, etc.,' the 32-year-old told police.
In the first week of July, the two men received an interview link. 'The person who interviewed us did not reveal his face but asked a few basic questions. In two days, our visas and tickets for Bangkok were ready,' the man said. On July 10, they arrived at Bengaluru airport. Minutes before boarding, one of them received a WhatsApp call from a man who introduced himself as 'Roy', their manager, who allegedly instructed them to send photos once they boarded the flight.
Upon landing in Bangkok, a company cab was waiting. They travelled about 450 km, were asked to rest in a hotel, and were told that other new recruits would join them. After two hours of travel, the group was left at a house in Mae Sot, along the Thailand-Myanmar border. The next day, the two were allegedly taken by motorcycle to the Myanmar border and left at a military camp. 'The people who took us were wearing military uniforms. Ten of us travelled for another 440 km in a car,' one victim told police.
They were taken to a company in Myanmar's Kayin State, where their passports were seized. 'We were taken to a room and given an agreement copy to sign,' one said. The next day, they entered the workspace and realised they had been deceived. 'There were around 70-80 Indians from almost all states working on that floor. Chinese nationals controlled the company. There were Indians and Africans. Our job was to scam Indians living in the United States and siphon money from their accounts. Every move was monitored,' the police were told.
The men reported being forced to work 16 hours a day, allowed a mobile phone for only one hour daily, and expected to sleep for six hours. 'Guards would check our rooms. If they saw that we were not sleeping, we would be punished,' one said. 'First, they give us a warning. For the second violation, there would be 50 to 100 sit-ups, then 10 rounds of running, then electric shocks. In case of repeated violations, we would be sent to a dark room and fed only once a day.' Realising they were trapped, the men managed to inform their families.
The Karnataka Cyber Command Unit alerted the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre and diplomatic officials in Myanmar, leading to the men's rescue. The unit has issued an advisory urging job seekers to verify the legitimacy of overseas employment offers and to be cautious of advertisements promising high salaries with minimal qualifications.
