A shocking case of human trafficking linked to international cybercrime has emerged from Karnataka, where two men from Kolar district were allegedly lured by a Facebook advertisement offering lucrative overseas jobs, only to be trafficked to a cyber scam compound on the Myanmar–Thailand border. Their passports were confiscated, and they were allegedly forced to participate in online fraud targeting people of Indian origin, particularly those living in the United States. The victims were eventually rescued and brought back to India through the coordinated efforts of Indian authorities and Karnataka Police.
According to the police, one of the victims, a 32-year-old man, had completed his schooling up to Class 12 and had nearly four years of experience in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. After leaving his previous job, he was searching for new employment when a friend showed him a Facebook advertisement promoting overseas job opportunities. The two men clicked on the link and submitted their personal details, including their names, educational qualifications and passport information.
A few days later, they received a link for an online interview. The victim told investigators that the interviewer kept his face hidden and asked only a few basic questions. Within two days of the interview, their visas and flight tickets to Bangkok had been arranged. On July 10, they departed from Bengaluru for Thailand. Just before boarding, they received a WhatsApp call from a man identifying himself as their manager, who instructed them to send photographs after boarding the aircraft.
Upon arriving in Bangkok, the men were picked up by a vehicle arranged by the company. They were driven nearly 450 kilometres to a hotel, where they were told that additional recruits would soon join them. The following day, they were taken to a location near the Thailand–Myanmar border. According to their statements, individuals wearing military uniforms escorted them across the border into Myanmar. They then travelled another 440 kilometres before reaching a compound in Myanmar’s Kayin State.
The victims alleged that their passports were confiscated immediately upon arrival and that they were compelled to sign an agreement. The next day, they discovered they had not joined a legitimate company but had been taken to a cyber scam operation. They told police that around 70 to 80 Indians from different states were working at the facility, while Chinese nationals allegedly controlled the operation. African nationals were also reportedly present. Their assigned task was to defraud people of Indian origin living in the United States through various online scams and siphon money from their bank accounts. Every movement inside the compound was reportedly under constant surveillance.
According to the victims, they were forced to work approximately 16 hours a day. They were allowed to use their mobile phones for only one hour daily and were given six hours to sleep. Any violation of the rules or failure to meet targets allegedly resulted in severe punishment, beginning with warnings and escalating to physical exercises, forced running, electric shocks, and, in repeated cases, confinement in a dark room with only one meal a day. Realising they had been trapped, the men managed to alert their families.
Following information provided by the families, a senior central government official brought the matter to the attention of the concerned authorities. The Karnataka Cyber Command Unit coordinated with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Indian diplomatic officials in Myanmar, leading to the successful rescue and safe return of both victims.
Following the incident, Karnataka Police issued a detailed advisory urging job seekers to exercise extreme caution while accepting overseas employment offers. Authorities warned that unsolicited job offers through social media or messaging platforms, unusually high salaries, free accommodation, pressure for immediate travel, demands to surrender passports, and unauthorised cross-border movement are all significant warning signs of human trafficking and cybercrime operations.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that cyber scam compounds operating across Southeast Asia have evolved into major hubs of organised human trafficking and transnational cybercrime. He advised job seekers to independently verify prospective employers and recruitment agencies before accepting overseas employment and to immediately report any suspicious offers to the relevant authorities.
