In a real-life plot twist that feels more like a bad thriller, around 540 Indians were lured into a cybercrime network by fake job offers and sold to call centres involved in cyber fraud across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
The infamous Golden Triangle Region in Southeast Asia, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, is a known hotspot for such cybercrime call centres.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) came to the rescue, with one flight carrying 283 nationals back home yesterday, and a second flight set to bring the rest from Mae Sot today. At least 42 of the rescued individuals are from the Telugu states, according to Union Minister Bandi Sanjay.
These unsuspecting workers were tricked into accepting fake job offers and then forced to participate in cybercrime activities at scam centres operating along the Myanmar-Thailand border. “These persons were subsequently made to indulge in cybercrime and engage in other fraudulent activities in scam centres,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told the media.
Even as the Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand coordinated with local authorities to arrange their repatriation, the Myanmar army arrived to rescue the victims. The rescued individuals are being flown back to Delhi after being brought to Mae Sot city in Thailand,
The government continues to warn citizens about these scams, urging them to verify job offers with Indian missions abroad and to double-check the legitimacy of recruiting agents and companies before accepting any overseas employment.
This is not the first time such a racket has been busted. In December, an agent named Kamran Haider, alias Zaidi, was arrested in Hyderabad after luring several young Indians into committing cybercrimes. Haider, who had a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head, was nabbed after a 2,500-km chase.
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