Cybercrime Exploits Slave Labour

Uploaded on 2025-03-24 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, FREE TO VIEW

Recent investigations by The Times of India have uncovered a web of cyber crime syndicates operating across Southeast Asia, exploiting thousands of young Indian men and women. Lured by fake job offers, these victims are trafficked, tortured, and coerced into committing cyber crimes.

The investigators report has revealed the harrowing accounts of individuals who were enslaved and forced to target fellow citizens, deceiving them through fraudulent activities on platforms like Meta's WhatsApp and Facebook platforms.

Investigators examined the methods used by criminals and have uncovered a human trafficking network in Visakhapatnam, a port city and industrial centre in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which is linked to cyber rime centres operating in Myanmar's Myawaddy region. An example of this is that currently three young victims from Visakhapatnam, allegedly trafficked and forced into cyber slavery, are now awaiting help. The agent behind their ordeal, code-named ‘Adam', allegedly lured them with false job promises and sold them to cyber scam centres for $3,500 each to Chinese and Myanmar handlers.

The victims spoke of their harrowing experience, including videos, money transactions and photos of their illegal crossing from Thailand to Myanmar.

Investigations suggest that Adam, once employed at a crime centre in Laos, expanded his operations to target young Indians. Shaik Umar, aged 23-year, recalled how Adam promised lucrative data entry jobs in Thailand, with a salary of Rs 70,000 / $800 per month. The agent booked train tickets to Bhubaneswar and reportedly collected Rs 50,000 / $550 from each victim for flight tickets and foreign exchange, assuring them that part of the amount would be refunded.

After travelling from Bhubaneswar to Thailand, Adam accompanied the victims until Mae Sot and then reportedly vanished, selling them to cyber slavery gangs.

At Mae Sot bus station, the victims underwent a fake interview conducted via a WhatsApp group. Despite their responses, they were "selected" and instructed to proceed further.From Mae Sot, they were smuggled across the Myanmar border, bypassing security patrols. Upon arriving at KK Park in Myawaddy, they underwent mandatory blood tests.

The victims were allegedly forced to manage fake Facebook profiles of women and post at least 100 comments daily to lure wealthy individuals. The perpetrators used AI-generated video calls and deepfake technology to deceive victims into fake investment schemes and other fraudulent transactions.

Despite being promised they could leave after three months, the victims faced constant abuse. Investigators said videos, pictures, and transaction details provided by the victims, along with banking records, uncovered the extent of the fraud.

The investigation discovered that that Adam had returned to Visakhapatnam after allegedly selling the victims, doubtless to repeat his crimes against other unwitting victims

It is estimated that India has the highest estimated total number of people living in modern slavery globally.

Business Today | Hindustan Times

Image: Ron Lach

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