‘Saw a man given shocks for refusing to scam’: Rescued Indians recount ordeal in Myanmar cybercrime hubs

Bareilly: At least seven Indian workers rescued from Myanmar have described being lured by fake job offers in Thailand, only to be trafficked across borders and forced into high-pressure cybercrime rackets under conditions they compared to captivity and torture. Speaking to TOI, the victims recounted episodes of physical abuse, confinement, and fear, with some saying they witnessed others being tortured for resisting scam operations.One of the rescued men said he was first contacted by a recruitment agency on messaging app Telegram while looking for work. "I was hesitant initially, but the agent assured me that I could return to India within eight days if I didn't like the job. He even gave me two tickets — one to Thailand and another for return," he said. On arrival, however, the arrangement took a darker turn. "After reaching Thailand, my phone and passport were seized. I was held at gunpoint and taken to Myanmar through a donkey route. The agent later sold me to a company scamming Indians in Canada and the US for Rs 4 lakh."The passage across the border was concealed and cramped. "We were made to lie inside a truck and covered with around 15 others. We remained in the same position for nearly eight hours," he said. Once inside Myanmar, he was confined to a dark, jail-like room. "I saw a man hanging upside down and being given electric shocks for refusing to scam people. Out of fear, I complied and signed a contract. We could hear bomb-like sounds while working. I managed to escape only after my boss fled Myanmar for unknown reasons."Another man described a system of penalties, surveillance, and humiliation. "There were fines for everything. Even stretching my back led to salary deductions. Repeated violations resulted in brutal beatings," he said, adding that he had been forced to honeytrap women online to meet targets. "We lived in bunker beds and were not allowed to step outside."A third victim, a woman, said the gangs did not spare women. "They used electric shocks if targets were not met and demanded lakhs of rupees for our release," she said. All seven victims interviewed said they were coerced into working in scam operations, with roles assigned depending on their skills. One survivor said some individuals eventually adapted to the racket. "A few people get used to the money and don't want to leave," he said.Explaining the structure of the cybercrime model, another victim said operatives were divided into three roles: "The finder identifies targets, the chatter builds trust, and the killer convinces victims to invest in crypto or send expensive gifts," he said. "They use fake applications showing high investment returns, though no real investment exists. When victims try to withdraw money, the scammers disappear."Bareilly DIG Ajay Sahani said that in some cases, scammers also recorded obscene videos of elderly people and blackmailed them. "They look for inactive social media accounts, hack them, and use them to carry out fraud," he said. The police have issued advisories warning against job offers made through unverified online platforms and urged jobseekers to check the credibility of foreign placements.