Lured by Lucrative Overseas Jobs, Two Youth Held Hostage in Myanmar; Forced into Cyber Scam Operations

Palwal: Two young men from Palwal fell prey to a sophisticated cybercrime racket in Myanmar after being lured with promises of high-paying overseas jobs. The youths were held hostage for four months and coerced into running online scams targeting overseas victims. Their ordeal ended only when Thai police raided the operation, rescuing them and other Indian nationals involved.

The Job Lure and Deceptive Recruitment

According to police reports, Akash from Bhaidauli village and Arvind from Sahanoli were approached through a social media job advertisement in June. Contacting the provided number via WhatsApp, they connected with Rafiq alias Rahi, a resident of Jammu & Kashmir, who posed as an HR representative for a company based in Myanmar.

The duo was promised a monthly salary of ₹80,000 in Bangkok or Myanmar. Following instructions, they traveled to Yangon International Airport, from where a taxi took them to a hotel. Two days later, they were taken to a location called KK Park via a river crossing.

Forced Cybercrime Training and Exploitation

After a medical check-up, the youths were handed over to a China-controlled company where all employees were Indian. There, they were forced to undergo training in cyber scams. They were instructed to create Facebook profiles under female identities and befriend Indians residing in the United States.

The scam targeted affluent individuals; any contact numbers obtained were sent to Chinese handlers. Victims were threatened with death if company locations or images were leaked. Akash and Arvind were compelled to continue working under constant threat.

Rescue Operation and Return

The Thai police raided the company, arresting all personnel, including the two Palwal youths. The cybercrime team confirmed that the rescued individuals were deported to Delhi on 10 November. Police are continuing to investigate the case.

Cyber Crime Police Inspector Naveen Kumar said, “This case highlights the risks faced by young Indians lured by overseas job offers. Vigilance and awareness are crucial to prevent such incidents.”

This report highlights the dangers of overseas job scams and underscores the role of international cooperation in rescuing victims from cybercrime networks.