Indian Youth Trapped in Myanmar’s Cyber Scam Hub, Rescued After Paying Ransom

Gurgaon: A 21-year-old govt college student from the city was lured to Myanmar with the promise of a high-paying job, only to find himself trapped inside KK Park — one of the most notorious cybercrime hubs in Southeast Asia.

Rupesh (name changed), eager to start earning despite his family’s advice to finish college, sought help from his brother’s friend. Through a chain of contacts — including an agent named Sandeep, known as “Lucas” on Telegram — he was promised a data entry job in Thailand with a salary of 30,000 Baht (₹80,000). Trusting the offer, he paid ₹20,000 for travel and left for Bangkok on October 14.

What followed was a dangerous journey through Thai jungles, multiple vehicle changes, and a river crossing into Myanmar. Once inside KK Park, Rupesh realised he had been trafficked into a cyber fraud operation run by Chinese handlers and local militias.

Recruits were trained to pose as women and scam US citizens online. The compound, designed like a high-security corporate campus, housed hundreds of Indians forced into online fraud. Attempts to escape invited shoot-at-sight orders, and passports were confiscated.

When Rupesh refused to work, handlers demanded $4,000 for his release. His family borrowed ₹3.9 lakh at heavy interest to secure his freedom. He was eventually handed over to authorities and returned to India on November 18.

Many others remain trapped. The two Indians who travelled with him were taken deeper into the scam centres, where workers face long hours, strict targets, fines for minor mistakes, and manipulation through threats and drug addiction.

City police have since arrested four agents — including Sandeep — for trafficking youths into Myanmar’s cybercrime dens. Investigations revealed a vast network of Indian recruiters operating via Telegram and Instagram, supplying fresh victims to criminal syndicates. Recruits are pushed to bring in more people, arrange mule accounts, and conduct cryptocurrency transactions through Binance.

According to police, scamsters undergo two months of training in chatting, typing and online “seduction” techniques, with incentives tied to the number of victims they trap.

Rupesh considers himself fortunate to have returned alive. “Asking for a job could have cost me my life,” he said.