Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam police have rescued 85 people who were entrapped by a cybercrime syndicate operating out of Myanmar. Visakhapatnam police commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday, shedding light on the increasing dangers posed by fraudulent job offers that lure unsuspecting job seekers into life-threatening situations.
One of the rescued victims who was present at the press conference recounted his trauma after applying for a job through LinkedIn where he received a link accepting his resume and offering a job. He said he was enticed by an attractive offer from a pharmaceutical company in Bangkok, which promised lucrative pay. However, upon arrival in Bangkok, he was kidnapped and transported to Myanmar, where he was coerced to work for a Chinese company involved in scams. The victim was forced to chat with people from various countries, including Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Spain, Germany, and India, posing as women and asking them to rate female items on eBay and recharge money. If the victim refused to comply, he was beaten and jailed. When he resisted, he faced severe punishments including torture and threats of imprisonment. He managed to reach out for help through social media, prompting his father to file a complaint with the police commissioner.
After months of forced labour, the victim requested to return to India but was demanded $8,000 (approximately Rs 8 lakhs). When he was unable to pay, he was transferred to another Chinese company. A person from Chennai came to rescue him but also demanded money. The victim was then handed over to the Musseette Tak Immigration Office with an escort from the KBGF Army. He was held in jail for a day and detained for five days at the Musseette IDC Centre before being sent to the Bangkok Tak Immigration Office. The Indian Embassy verified the victim's details and instructed him to book a ticket to India. With the Embassy's cooperation, the victim safely reached Visakhapatnam.
Commissioner Bagchi emphasised the alarming rise in fraudulent overseas job offers facilitated by unregistered recruitment agents. The police commissioner warned job seekers to be vigilant against such scams, which are proliferating through platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. He urged job seekers to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agents through official channels and ensure that any employment contract includes clear terms regarding salary and work conditions.
