How Telugu youth are lured for jobs, sold to Chinese operators in Cambodia to run cyber fraud schemes

Andhra/ Telangana: He was 30 but still jobless. His family was in huge financial debt and he was unable to help them. After failed job interviews, he got an opportunity abroad with a promising salary of $700. Luck had however other things in store for him. He was forced to work in a fraud job call center and cheat his countrymen.

This is not an isolated case. Hundreds of youth were trafficked to Cambodia in the name of jobs and were forced to work in a Chinese-run call center, making scam calls to India.

Recent reports have said more than 5,000 Indians in Cambodia and Myanmar were forced to operate cyber-fraud schemes. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world are estimated to have fallen prey to human traffickers running job scams in Southeast Asia.

Victims, mostly young and tech-savvy, are promised jobs and then lured into illegal online work ranging from money laundering and crypto fraud to so-called love scams, where they pose as lovers online.

A UN report said in August 2023 that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and another 100,000 in Cambodia were forced into operating cyber-fraud schemes.

Recently, 58 youngsters who were trafficked to Cambodia were rescued and brought back to India. Among them, 27 youths are from Visakhapatnam and the surrounding districts.

In May, police arrested three people on human trafficking charges for luring over 150 youth from the city and its vicinity, promising jobs in the Southeast Asian country. But in reality, they were trafficked to be sold over to Chinese operators in Cambodia, where they were tortured and confined to work in dark rooms to carry out cybercrime and Ponzi schemes.

Real story

Speaking to NewsMeter, an MBA pass, who is one of the victims of the Cambodia job scam, shared his ordeal.

In June 2023, 30-year-old Mukesh, an MBA from Andhra University, landed in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, after he was given a data entry operator job in Cambodia. He had to go to Cambodia to earn money from his family. His father, Ramesh, a former employee of Vizag Steel Plant and only breadwinner, suffered serious health issues in 2019, leaving the family without their primary source of income.

"I was searching for a job online outside India so that I can earn more for my family. I joined Globex at a monthly salary of $800 (approximately Rs. 51,000). The company is located behind a legally-run casino in Krong Kampot, a city on the Preaek Tuek Chhu River in southern Cambodia, known for its pepper plantations and salt fields" said Mukesh, who recently returned to Vizag.

According to him, the surroundings were secure, and no one would even know about the kind of job scam they were into until you entered their office environment. "There is one huge big building where everything is available, including shopping and food inside. So we are not allowed to go outside. Each room will organize different scams. I have traveled to 4 different parts of Cambodia. Once the company suffers financial loss or if they think we are useless, they will sell us to another company. Sending our salary back home is risky, as we are not allowed to go outside. So we have to do crypto or give commission to local merchants to send money to India, said Mukesh.

While he was trained for a week, Mukesh was instructed to create fake profiles on various social media platforms. "I realized that the job is to 'attract' people and dupe them, which was illegal. I attempted to escape and gave a verbal notice to my immediate superior, who told me to be ready with at least $4,500 to quit. And there is even a guarantee that you will be sent back," said Mukesh.

His plans to flee Cambodia caught the attention of his superiors at the workplace, when they began to restrict him to his room provided by his employer, and was kept under close watch.

"Not just me, there were hundreds of job-seekers like me from various parts of India, who faced the same trouble. I was even beaten up by the company staff, which is a punishment if you don't do the job properly. There are also punishments like being in a dark room, electric shock, and not providing food for the day. There are also rewards if you do a good job like inviting girls or giving parties," said Mukesh who experienced a horrible life for a year and returned to India in June 2024.

"It's not just Cambodia and Myanmar, wherever there are footprints of Chinese; they run these operations in different parts of the world," said Mukesh.

Cyber slavery hotspots:

Cambodia, and particularly its city of Sihanoukville, epitomizes the crisis. Initially attracted by low taxes, cyber criminals established extensive operations here. Despite a government ban on online gambling in 2019, illegal activities persist, facilitated by systemic corruption and inadequate law enforcement. These conditions create a fertile ground for cyber slavery operations which promise high returns for minimal risk.

Similar conditions prevail in regions like Myanmar’s Myawaddy and Laos’s Golden Triangle SEZ. Myanmar's political instability post-coup has weakened governance, allowing traffickers to operate with impunity. In Laos, the remote and poorly governed areas of the Golden Triangle provide a haven for such illicit activities, underscoring the regional challenge posed by inadequate political will and governance in tackling human trafficking.

Jobs through agents

The victims pay around Rs 50,000 to agents and they are promised to get a secured call centre job in Cambodia.

After securing a visa, the victims are sent to Cambodia. On arrival in Cambodia, another agent will pick them up, take their passports, and reach the Thailand border. Then, the victims are introduced to a Chinese agent who takes up an interview and promises a salary of around $800- $1000.

The government estimates that these fraudsters have duped people of at least Rs 500 crore in India over the past six months through this scam.

What is the job?

Upon arrival in Cambodia, the victims' passports are seized by the officials. The victims are forced to engage in cybercrimes, such as romance scams, phishing, and financial fraud. They work under strict quotas and face severe punishments, including physical violence, for non-compliance.

The use of psychological manipulation and physical abuse to maintain control is rampant, with many victims suffering from severe trauma and helplessness.

Victims are forced to conduct online scams using various technological tools. These include creating fake profiles on social networking sites, using specialized software to mimic legitimate business activities, and employing phishing techniques to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims.

Technology also aids traffickers in monitoring the activities of their victims. Surveillance systems, restricted internet access, and confiscation of personal devices ensure that victims remain under control and unable to seek help.

Traffickers use social media and online job portals to lure victims with fake job offers. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn are often exploited to post fraudulent job advertisements and communicate with potential victims. Once recruited, technology is used to monitor and control victims, often through surveillance cameras and restricted internet access.

Organizations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Interpol play crucial roles in addressing this issue. The UNODC provides training, resources, and policy advice to affected countries, helping to strengthen their legal and institutional frameworks against human trafficking. Interpol facilitates international police cooperation to dismantle the networks involved in these crimes.

Countries like India have launched numerous initiatives to protect their citizens from falling victim to these schemes. The Indian government has issued advisories and worked with foreign governments for the repatriation and rescue of its nationals involved in such situations abroad.

Youth awaits return from Myanmar

A 24-year-old Sagar (name changed) from Rajahmundry is one of the victims who is now in a helpless situation in KK Park on the Myanmar–Thailand border. Got a job through a friend in Dubai, and Sagar was offered 30,000 Bhat (approx Rs 74,0000).

"I used to work in Dubai for a solar panel company, but they shifted their base, and I lost my job. I got this job offer from my friend. After a Zoom call interview, I was asked to come to Bangkok," said Sagar who went in August 2024.

"When I reached the airport, one of the company organizers came in and took me in their car. There were around 7-8 members along with me including one woman. We were given one night's accommodation in a resort. The next day, we were asked to get into a boat to cross the river. Worried about the situation, I tried to escape but there were soldiers behind us holding guns," said Sagar, who lost his parents during COVID and has a sister living in India.

Explaining his mode of work Sagar said, "We were asked to talk like girls with people in the US and Canada to make them invest in cryptocurrency. Our job is to influence them like we are successful, rich single women and make them invest. We have to work 15-18 hours every day. There are at least 10,000 Indians stuck in the same situation. Some of the Indians also get their friends into this job without telling them about the fraud, to get an extra commission of 20,000 Bhat (approx Rs 49,000)."

When asked if he was tortured, Sagar said, "In some of the companies, the victims are given current shock, tortured if they try to escape. I haven't experienced anything as of now. But I have approached the Andhra Pradesh police, seeking their help to return soon."

Youth rescued from Telangana.

A 29-year-old from Hyderabad has recently returned to India after escaping from a cyber crime den in Cambodia. The 29-year-old resident of Kurmaguda, Madannapet, sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh after fleeing from a Chinese-run call center involved in scamming Indians. On his return, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered a fresh case of trafficking based on his statements.

Protests by victims in Cambodia

The victims revolted at Jinbei and Compound, Sihanoukville, Cambodia, which is allegedly a hub for cybercrime. This act worked in their favor and set several key Indian government departments into motion to work for their release, including the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Soon, the MEA opened a control room, set up helplines, and also assigned special officers to pursue through diplomatic channels for the release of the trafficked youth.

Many youth from Vizag rescued

Speaking to NewsMeter, Visakhapatnam Joint Commissioner of Police K Fakkeerappa said, "Vizag City Police have been notably proactive in addressing the issue of cyber slavery involving Indian citizens. Through coordinated efforts with international law enforcement agencies, we have successfully conducted operations to rescue around 35 persons. Two youths are currently stuck in Myanmar; we are trying to return them. These victims are sent to Singapore on tourist visas, and from there, they are taken by other modes of transport to Cambodia or Myanmar".

Retired naval officer helps victims.

People who apply for this job are genuine job seekers. However, the degree of exploitation has increased in the last six years. This is a big financial scam, and at least 30,000 victims from Andhra Pradesh are still trapped in this scam. Most of the victims are taken to Dubai and are illegally migrated to Bangkok," Commander Ashok VM Kumar, retired naval officer and an expert in anti-human trafficking for South Asia, told NewsMeter.

Being an ex-government officer, many victims approach Commander Ashok for help, and he makes efforts to bring those in help back to India.

How to stay away from fake job scams?

1. Be cautious of job offers that promise unusually high salaries for low-skilled work or ask for payment upfront for visa or travel expenses.

2. Check the legitimacy of the company and the job offer. Legitimate companies will have verifiable contact information, physical addresses, and professional websites.

3. Be wary of job offers received through unsolicited messages on social media or messaging platforms.

4. Use online resources to verify the legitimacy of the company. Look for reviews, news articles, and official company websites.

5. Use verified contact information to reach out to the company and confirm the job offer.

6. Seek advice from career counselors or industry professionals to evaluate the legitimacy of job offers.

7. Avoid sharing personal information such as passport details, bank information, and personal identification numbers until you have verified the legitimacy of the job offer.

8. Use strong, unique passwords for online accounts, and be cautious of phishing attempts that seek to steal your personal information.

9. Report suspicious job offers and profiles to the social media or job portal where they were posted.