How youth from Telangana, Andhra are lured for jobs and trafficked to Myanmar to run online scams
Reports said they were held captive and forced to run global online scams from these camps
By - Newsmeter Network
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Hyderabad: Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has arrested five agents for illegally sending unemployed youth from two Telugu states to cyber fraud camps in Myanmar.
Reports said they were held captive and forced to run global online scams from these camps.
The arrests were made in connection with two cases (Crime Nos. 49 and 50 of 2025) registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station (Headquarters) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Emigration Act, and the IT Act, 2008.
Accused arrested
The arrested persons have been identified as Vasam Govardhan (35) of Kothagudem, Warangal district, currently residing at Quthbullapur, Banoth Madanlal (26) of Goragutta Thanda, Warangal Rural district.
Syed Mohammed Madani alias Max (21) of Mysuru, Suggana Sudheer Kumar (26) of Gannavaram, Krishna district, and Gangala Naveen (26) of Peerzadiguda, Uppal, Hyderabad, a native of Tirupati.
Victims’ complaint exposes racket
The racket came to light after two victims, Sharan and Sangeereddy Jeevan Reddy, approached the TGCSB on November 22, 2025.
They alleged that agents collected large sums promising high-paying jobs abroad, but instead trafficked them to Myawaddy in Myanmar, a known hub of organised cyber crimes.
On arrival, the victims were confined, their passports seized, and they were forced to work 16 to 18 hours a day in online scam centres run by foreign operators.
On October 22, 2025, the Myanmar Army detained several trafficked Indians and held them in a camp for 25 days. They were later handed over to the Indian Embassy on November 19 and brought to Delhi from Mae Sot, Thailand, on November 20.
Following directions from the Union Home Ministry, the TGCSB brought 45 Telangana victims to Hyderabad, provided counselling, carried out forensic analysis of mobile phones, and recorded their statements. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was then constituted to track down the traffickers.
Illegal consultancy and social media trap
Investigations revealed that Vasam Govardhan ran an unregistered foreign job consultancy named ‘Yuga’ without a licence or registration with the Protector of Emigrants. He lured unemployed youth through social media advertisements and diverted them through licensed agencies to avoid suspicion.
Govardhan worked closely with Banoth Madanlal, who first reached Myanmar through Sudheer Kumar after being recruited through an Instagram interview arranged by a woman posing as a recruiter.
Commission for every recruit
After reaching Myanmar, both Madanlal and Sudheer joined a company identified as HS, which promised a commission of $3,000 to $5,000 per recruit. Acting on this, Madanlal struck a deal with Govardhan to send more candidates in return for a share of the commission.
Victims were interviewed online, charged Rs 25,000 each, routed via Bangkok, added to Telegram groups, and then illegally transported to Myawaddy’s KK4 region, notorious for cyber scam operations.
₹2 L collected in a separate case
In another case, accused Gangala Naveen, who had earlier worked in Myanmar, trapped a victim after collecting Rs 2 lakh in the name of a data entry job. Once the victim sought to return after realising the nature of the work, he was asked to pay a $5,000 ransom, failing which he was forced to continue working.
Forced into Global Cyber Frauds
The trafficked youth were compelled to carry out investment scams, digital arrest frauds, OTP harvesting, and romance scams. Those who disobeyed were subjected to physical assault and mental harassment.
Public Advisory
The TGCSB has urged citizens to remain cautious against overseas job fraud and advised:
To verify recruitment agencies thoroughly.
Not to pay large sums in advance.
To consult embassies before travelling abroad.
To report suspicious activities to 1930 or at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
