Job-seekers from Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana, and Delhi are increasingly falling victim to a sinister scheme that is turning them into ‘cyber-slaves’ in Southeast Asia. The Cyber Crime Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police has issued a stern advisory, highlighting the growing menace of cyber slavery in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. This blog explores the alarming rise of cyber slavery and offers advice on how to avoid falling into this dangerous trap.
What is Cyber Slavery?
Cyber slavery is a modern form of human trafficking where individuals are lured with attractive job offers in foreign countries, only to be trapped and forced into committing cyber frauds for survival. These victims, often seeking better employment opportunities, are sent to Southeast Asian nations on tourist visas by fraudulent recruitment agencies. Once they arrive, their passports are confiscated, and they are held captive by organized criminal gangs, who force them to engage in illegal activities like digital scams.
How Job-Seekers are Trapped
The modus operandi of these criminal gangs is disturbingly simple yet effective. Job-seekers are promised lucrative data entry or call center jobs abroad, primarily in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The victims, often unaware of the true nature of these offers, travel to these countries with high hopes. Upon arrival, their passports are taken away, and they are trapped in a foreign land with no legal means to return home. To regain their freedom, these individuals are forced to pay large sums of money, often in Chinese Yuan, or to engage in cyber crimes like investment frauds, dating scams, and FedEx frauds.
The Scale of the Problem
The scale of cyber slavery is staggering. Between January and April 2024 alone, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal registered around 400 complaints related to investment frauds, with losses amounting to ₹800 crore. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has revealed that 26 individuals have been rescued and returned to India from scam compounds in Cambodia. Alarmingly, 1,285 passengers from Tamil Nadu (and nearly 39,735 from across India) who traveled to these countries on tourist visas between January 2022 and November 2023 have not returned, raising suspicions that many are still trapped in cyber slavery.
How to Protect Yourself
To avoid becoming a victim of cyber slavery, job-seekers should thoroughly verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies. Sandeep Mittal, Additional Director-General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing, advises checking whether the agencies are registered on the emigration portal of India (https://emigrate.gov.in). The portal provides a list of registered agencies, as well as a list of unregistered or illegal recruitment agencies. Job-seekers should also be cautious of too-good-to-be-true job offers and should always cross-check with official sources before making any decisions.
