Almost 2,000 Indian nationals are working in cybercrime-related operations in Myanmar’s Myawaddy, The Times of India reported.
The town of Myawaddy, located on the Thailand-Myanmar border, is controlled by armed militia groups.
Indian citizens working there are lured by fake job offers in many Southeast Asian countries, such as Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, only to find themselves trapped in “cyber slavery” operations.
In these setups, individuals are coerced into working for online scam centres, targeting victims worldwide.
India issues advisory
Indian authorities have issued multiple advisories urging nationals to exercise extreme caution and thoroughly verify employment opportunities before travelling to Southeast Asian countries, particularly Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
29,000 Indians are missing in Southeast Asia
As of September 2024, over 29,000 Indians were missing in Southeast Asia, believed to be victims of such trafficking schemes, Business Standard reported.
The embassies in these countries are working to secure the release of trapped nationals. Meanwhile, they have warned that those working willingly are not victims but criminals.
Since June 2022, over 600 Indians have been rescued from Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Myawaddy, a hub of cybercrime operations
Myawaddy is a town in Myanmar’s Kayin State along the Thai border. The town has become a notorious hub for cybercrime operations. Criminal syndicates, primarily led by Chinese nationals, have established extensive scam centres in the region.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe scammers force these trafficked individuals into conducting online fraud schemes. These operations have ensnared victims from various countries, including a significant number of Indian nationals.
Myanmar’s recent crackdown
Recently, Myanmar’s law enforcement agencies have conducted raids, detaining over 270 foreign nationals from scam compounds near the Thai border as part of a broader crackdown on illegal online operations.
Concurrently, Thailand and China have collaborated to establish coordination centres aimed at combating the proliferation of scam call networks operating along Thailand’s borders with Myanmar and Cambodia.