In Myawaddy, a militia-controlled area close to the Myanmar-Thailand border, about 2,000 Indians are currently engaged in cyber scam activities. Many of them were allegedly tricked by phoney job offers and are now being compelled to conduct online fraud against victims in the US and India.

Authorities warn that although some people have been saved, the scam’s scope is far more than first thought. The Indian embassy has warned that individuals who intentionally engage in these frauds will be subject to legal repercussions, even as it works to remove the impacted citizens.

Indian officials have warned that to avoid falling into similar traps, job seekers should confirm employment offers in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Workers in Myawaddy, a militia-controlled area close to the Myanmar-Thailand border, are forced under coercion to participate in internet fraud schemes, making it a key hub for cybercrime. Many victims are enticed by fictitious job promises and end themselves stuck in scam centres, unable to leave until they pay large ransoms.

Although attempts to intervene have been hampered by the anarchic character of the area, Indian consular personnel are making an effort to evacuate individuals in need. In response to international criticism, Thai authorities have shut off fuel, electricity, and internet in strategic locations where these operations are taking place. Additionally, China has called on Thailand to crack down on the international power networks that support these scam syndicates.

The crisis still exists despite these actions. Even though at least 150 Indians have been named as victims, investigators think the true number is much higher because many of them are allegedly working freely and have not reported the incident to the police.

Three Indians escaped from a scam centre in Myawaddy on February 18 and arrived in Yangon with the help of the embassy. They are currently undergoing repatriation processing. Large-scale rescue efforts are still challenging, although, because of the instability in the area.

More than 600 Indians have been saved from scam networks in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar since June 2022, underscoring the continued danger for job seekers in the area.