Agents luring people to Myanmar cybercrime den under cops’ radar

Hyderabad: In a major coordinated operation, Telangana police have filed nine FIRs against agents and manpower consultancies allegedly involved in trafficking unemployed individuals into Myanmar's notorious cybercrime hubs. The crackdown, spearheaded by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), follows the repatriation of 24 individuals from Myanmar via Thailand in recent days.
TGCSB director Shikha Goel confirmed that two cases were filed earlier based on complaints from parents, and seven more were registered in the past two days.
"More FIRs will be filed, and we are in the process of identifying the accused," she said.
The TGCSB registered four cases, while additional cases were filed in Armoor, Jagtial, Sircilla, Rein Bazar in Hyderabad and Manakondur in Karimnagar.
According to Goel, some of the accused agents operate locally, while others are based outside the state or even abroad. Many of the victims were allegedly recruited via social media platforms, where fraudulent job offers were made. Upon arrival at these cybercrime compounds, victims had their passports confiscated and were forced to work for 14-15 hours daily. Some victims alleged they were subjected to torture, while those who performed well were promised incentives.
The statement of Gortha Ramana, a 41-year-old electrician from Armoor, highlights the deceptive recruitment process. Ramana described how he was allegedly lured by a fraudulent job offer for a housekeeping position in Thailand. In June 2024, he attended an interview arranged by Sampath of Srirama Manpower Consultancy in Jagtial. After multiple follow-ups, he was informed of a job opportunity and charged Rs 1.10 lakh for visa processing. An online interview was conducted by a person named James, who claimed Ramana had been selected for the role.
On Aug 1, 2024, Ramana, along with another victim, Ashok from Ramadugu village in Jagtial, left Hyderabad for Thailand. Upon arrival in Bangkok, they were instructed to travel to Chiang Rai, before being taken by taxi to the Thailand-Laos border. After crossing the river into Laos, they were met by a Chinese handler, who reportedly confiscated their passports and transported them to a cybercrime operation in Myanmar.
Ramana was first assigned to a company in Laos, later moved to another called ‘Haia Company,' and eventually transferred to KK Park in Myanmar. There, he was allegedly coerced into participating in online scams, including cryptocurrency fraud, real estate scams, and messaging fraud on dating apps.
Ramana's earnings, which totalled Rs 22,000 per month, were transferred via Binance online trading. He recounted how his identity was erased – he was given the nickname ‘Rocky' and placed among nine other Indian workers, whose real names were not known to him.