Cyber Crime
Shocking Truth: How Indian IT Pros Are Being Tricked into Cyber Slavery
Indian techies lured to Cambodia for high-paying jobs find themselves trapped in cyber fraud schemes, forced to work 16 hours a day under severe conditions.
Imagine this: you’re a skilled tech worker in India, lured by the promise of a high-paying IT job abroad. But instead of landing your dream position, you find yourself trapped in a Cambodian nightmare, forced to work 16-hour days committing cyber fraud for a Chinese gang. This horrifying scenario isn’t fiction; it’s the harsh reality for thousands of Indian tech professionals.
This week, Telangana police rescued two such individuals, exposing a dark underbelly of cybercrime. Their story sheds light on a large-scale trafficking operation targeting Indian IT workers by Chinese cybercrime gangs operating out of Cambodia and Myanmar. This distressing scenario underscores a growing issue that has ensnared numerous unsuspecting IT workers from India, lured under false pretenses to Southeast Asia, where they are forced into committing cyber crimes.
CLICK THIS LINK TO BECOME FCRF CHAPTER LEAD
ALSO READ: Join the Movement: Future Crime Research Foundation Launches State Chapters to Build a Cyber-Safe India
The Plight of Indian Tech Workers Abroad
Reports indicate that these workers were promised lucrative tech jobs overseas, only to find themselves trapped, working exhaustive 16-hour days and engaging in illegal activities against their will. The ordeal faced by these two individuals is not isolated, as the Indian External Affairs Ministry highlighted the return of about 250 Indians from similar situations in Cambodia over the past few years, with 75 repatriated in the last three months alone.
India is actively combating this issue, as MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted, “We are working in collaboration with Cambodian authorities and agencies in India to crack down on those responsible for these fraudulent schemes.” This multinational effort aims to dismantle the recruitment networks that deceive and exploit these workers.
ALSO READ: Victim Of A Cyber Attack? Now Dial 1930 & 155260 To Register Complaint And Get Your Money Back
A Wider International Problem
An investigation by News18 estimates that over 5,000 Indians might currently be held in similar conditions in Southeast Asia, forced into scams that have extracted at least Rs 500 crore from victims back in India over the past six months alone. The US State Department and the United Nations offer even more dire estimates globally, suggesting that tens of thousands are caught in such exploitative practices, often described as modern slavery.
The victims are frequently misled about their work destination, believing they will be employed by companies in Thailand or the Philippines. However, they are instead taken to Cambodia, where their travel documents are seized, and they are made to commit a range of cybercrimes, from stealing life savings to attacking international governmental or non-governmental organizations.
ALSO READ: Telangana Police Crack Down on Rs 4,23,65,000 Cyber Scam, Five Arrested
Cambodia and China’s Role in Addressing the Crisis
In 2022, Cambodia acknowledged the grave situation by freeing about 900 individuals from traffickers, though this action provoked retaliation from the cybercrime syndicates, including significant cyber attacks on Cambodian government-related organizations in October 2023. Meanwhile, Myanmar remains another hotspot where impunity for such trafficking is rampant, exacerbated by corruption and political unrest.
While China’s involvement is criticized by Western nations accusing it of cyber espionage, it has made some efforts to mitigate the issue. In November of the previous year, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security reported the extradition of 31,000 suspects from northern Myanmar, including leaders of scamming groups, signaling a significant crackdown on these criminal operations.
Despite these efforts, Cambodia’s reputation as a center for forced labor and cyber fraud continues to impact its international standing, with significant consequences for its tourism sector. Reports from Nikkei Asia reveal that the ongoing ‘scamdemic’ has deterred tourists, particularly from China, where authorities now warn travelers about the risks of visiting Cambodia.
Looking Forward
The global challenge of cyber fraud and human trafficking requires a robust and coordinated international response. As nations grapple with these crimes, the focus remains firmly on preventing exploitation and protecting the rights of citizens abroad. Through continued international cooperation and stringent law enforcement, there is hope for curbing these transnational criminal activities and safeguarding future workers from similar fates.