Cybercrime surge: CBI flags Myanmar's ‘digital arrest’ rackets; chargesheet reveals slave compounds, cross-border control

Myanmar and neighbouring regions are emerging as major hubs for “digital arrest” cyber-fraud networks that coerce trafficked Indians into running call-centre style operations, the CBI has said in a chargesheet filed against 13 accused, PTI reported.The agency’s findings stem from a suo motu case investigating 10 major incidents of digital-arrest scams. Technical analysis of nearly 15,000 IP addresses linked to the fraud revealed “extensive cross-border connections”, with several key bank accounts used to collect and route victims’ funds “being controlled from abroad”, according to PTI. A CBI spokesperson said evidence now shows that “slave compounds operating in Myanmar and neighbouring areas have emerged as major hubs for the execution of digital arrest frauds, where trafficked Indian nationals are coerced to run call-centre style cybercrime operations.” The agency said the findings align with ongoing parallel investigations into cyber-slavery networks across Southeast Asia.From the technical dataset, India-based IP logins were isolated, enabling targeted searches that led to the identification of domestic operatives. Three suspects were arrested in October. The chargesheet details financial trails, call-flow patterns, VoIP routing and misuse of remote-access tools that allegedly support the racket.The CBI has also traced several accounts linked to masterminds “based in Cambodia, Hong Kong and China”, PTI reported. Investigators said these accounts were central to collecting and distributing proceeds of the fraud.The agency told the court that continued probe is underway against additional conspirators, facilitators, money-mule handlers and the overseas infrastructure sustaining these transnational operations.