Cyber Slavery Ringleaders Nabbed: 549 Trapped Indians Rescued

Goa Police arrested three international traffickers, including a Kazakhstan national, for running cyber slavery call centers. 549 Indians were rescued from Myanmar. Victims were lured with fake job offers, forced into fraud activities targeting the USA. The network involved fake job agencies and honey-trapping schemes. Investigation continues.

In a major crackdown, Goa Police have arrested three members of an international trafficking syndicate, including a Kazakhstan national, who masterminded cyber slavery call centers across Southeast Asia. This operation, spearheaded by the Indian government, successfully rescued 549 Indians trapped in Myanmar.

The victims were deceived by promises of lucrative jobs in Thailand, offering monthly salaries of Rs 60,000 for roles in call centers. Upon arrival, however, these individuals were coerced into operations focused on duping Americans, either by enticing them to invest in fictional trading businesses or through honey-trapping tactics. Goa DGP Alok Kumar disclosed that over 500 Indian citizens, including one Goan, were saved from cyber enslavement along the Thai-Cambodian border. Following a victim's tip-off, a case was filed, leading to three arrests.

The initial arrest in Bengaluru unmasked two more suspects: Roop Gupta from Mumbai, implicated in leading a fraudulent overseas job agency, and a Kazakhstan national of Chinese descent. The cyber crime team swiftly acted to detain the latter as he attempted to flee via Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport. Kumar noted that the suspects are likely entwined in a wider network exploiting job seekers for illegitimate call center operations and modeling honey traps. The complex investigation remains ongoing, with further developments anticipated.