Alleged Human Trafficking Of Indians In Chinese Scam Centers
These scam centers tend to operate in Southeast Asian countries and an average of 7,000 related complaints are filed daily.
Alan J July 14, 2024
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India has uncovered a large-scale human trafficking operation that has ensnared thousands of Indians in Southeast Asian countries to work in Chinese scam centers. According to a first information report(FIR) filed by the agency, victims are being forced to work as cyber criminals in these operations.
Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, revealed that an average of 7,000 cyber-related complaints are registered daily with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Most of these frauds originate in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
Trafficking Scheme of Chinese Scam Centers
According to a recent report from The Indian Express, victims of these campaigns are lured in with promises of lucrative jobs in foreign countries such as Dubai and Bangkok, only to be trafficked to Southeast Asian countries. Once they arrive, they are forced to work in call centers or “casinos” where they are trained to scam people from around the world.
One such victim, Saddam Sheikh from Maharashtra’s Palghar district, was contacted via WhatsApp about a job opportunity in Thailand. After paying 140,000 rupees (approximately $1,700) for a visa, Sheikh was sent to Bangkok and then to Laos. He was forced to scam people in India, Canada and the United States by promoting fraudulent cryptocurrency investments online. Sheikh eventually managed to escape and return to India.
Similar cases have been reported in other parts of Southeast Asia. Martha Praveen, who fled a scam operation in Cambodia, claimed he was among 5,000 Indians working in a call center run by Chinese gangs. Praveen was initially offered a job in Azerbaijan but was instead sent to Cambodia. Upon arrival, his passport was confiscated, and he was taken to a large office complex housing multiple call centers disguised as casinos.
Government Response and Investigation
The CBI filed its case after consulting with the home ministry, telecom ministry and Reserve Bank of India. These institutions were tasked with identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in the banking and telecom sectors that enable such scams.
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has also filed a similar report based on Praveen’s complaint. The victims were reportedly involved in scamming people by offering fraudulent trading, investment and job opportunities, primarily targeting Indians, Europeans and Turkish nationals.
As investigations continue, authorities are working to dismantle these criminal networks and prevent further exploitation of Indian citizens. The scale of the operation highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between international law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking and cyber crime.
