'Call centre holds Thane man captive in Thailand, demands $3k for release'

THANE: A 31-year-old resident of Thane's Wagle Estate who according to his brother was duped into thinking he had landed a digital marketing job in Bangkok but was forced by a "fake call centre to impersonate a woman on social media to encourage people to buy cryptocurrency" has been allegedly held captive in a Thailand forest since September 12.
His employer at the call centre has made a US$3,000 demand for his release, his brother alleged.
The victim, Ashish Dubey, somehow managed to contact his brother, who filed a police complaint with Thane's Srinagar police and also moved the ministry of external affairs and Maharashtra chief minister's office.
A police officer said they have communicated with the Indian embassy in Thailand.
The police registered a case under Indian Penal Code sections for extortion and cheating on Wednesday.
"In his complaint, the victim's brother alleged that a man he met in Thane told him of job opportunities in Thailand. The complainant, who was looking for a job for his brother, made enquiries and was informed about one that promised $1,000 monthly salary," said a police officer.
The victim, said the complainant, was interviewed through a video call, after which he was "selected" for a "digital marketing job" and the "company" dispatched his visa and flight tickets. Along with the victim, two other men, one from Mumbai and the other China, were selected for the job, said the officer.
The officer added Dubey went to Bangkok on September 12 and upon arrival, he and the Mumbai man were taken to an unknown location deep inside a forest but not asked to do any digital marketing job.
"He was employed by one KK Company which runs a fake call centre where the victim was made to impersonate a woman on social media, and was given a script to encourage people to purchase cryptocurrency. He and the other man were used to force citizens to purchase cryptocurrency and cheat them," said the officer.
Dubey was harassed and forced to achieve targets set by the call centre for nearly 15 hours a day and when he wanted to leave was held captive in the company premises itself, said his brother in his complaint.