In a major rescue operation, about 540 Indian nationals who were lured into a cyber crime network through fake job offers have been successfully brought back from Thailand and other countries. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has already flown in 283 of the rescued individuals, while a second flight is scheduled to bring back the remaining individuals from Mae Sot today.
According to Union Minister Bandi Sanjay, at least 42 of the rescued individuals hail from the Telugu states. These victims were tricked into fake job offers and subsequently sold to fraudulent call centres involved in cyber scams operating in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed that the victims were coerced into engaging in cyber fraud and other fraudulent activities in scam centres located in border regions between Myanmar and Thailand. The Myanmar army played a crucial role in their rescue, after which Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand coordinated with local authorities to secure their repatriation.
The victims were first taken to Mae Sot city in Thailand before being flown to Delhi. The Golden Triangle Region in Southeast Asia, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar intersect, is known to be a hotspot for cyber crime operations involving fake call centres.
The Indian government has repeatedly issued warnings about such job scams and advised job seekers to verify employment opportunities abroad through Indian missions, authorized recruiting agents, and legitimate companies before accepting any offer.
In December last year, authorities arrested an agent, Kamran Haider alias Zaidi, accused of deceiving young Indians into these cyber fraud networks. The arrest, which carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh, was made after an extensive 2,500-km chase.
Sources By Agencies
