Indians Trapped in Myanmar's Cyber Scam Nightmare

In the vast expanse of Southeast Asia, a sinister world of cybercrime has taken root, ensnaring countless Indians and leaving them prey to international syndicates. Pradeep Vijay, 24, from Maharashtra, India, was just one of many who fell victim to this nightmare in August 2022.

A Job Offer Too Good to Be True

Pradeep had responded to a job offer through a social media platform that he believed to be genuine. Initially promised a data entry role, he soon found himself tasked with scamming US-based Indian expats and luring victims into cryptocurrency investments. His brother, Deepak, recounted the harrowing tale of Pradeep's captivity, "He endured torture and psychological coercion, and we managed to pay ransom after months of captivity." Even now, his brother refuses to speak about the suffering he endured, and it's clear that the experience has left him a changed person.

The Rise of Cybercrime in Southeast Asia

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar revealed during parliament that many Indians have been coerced into criminality by those running scam centers. "In India, we have requested for the blocking of sites which promote such jobs. We have recommended prosecution in certain cases for people who have been involved in this," he said. One of the most notorious scam centers is KK Park, located in Myawaddy, Myanmar, near the Thailand border.

A Prison-Like Compound

At least a dozen Indians were recently rescued from KK Park by Myanmar's Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), an independent militia allied to the country's military junta, and relocated to Mae Sot, a border town in Thailand. The operations at KK Park are run by criminal syndicates, though they collaborate with local armed groups for protection and logistics. "Many of the victims are given fake online identities, and the scale of the operations is huge," said a senior intelligence official on condition of anonymity.

The Scale of the Problem

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that as many as 120,000 people may be working in Myanmar scam centers against their will. Official data shows that 29,466 Indians who traveled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam between January 2022 and May 2024 on visitor visas have not returned. Narcotics and money laundering expert Shreekumar Menon notes, "Our laws are not designed to nab foreigners working in different countries, whether in cybercrime or drug manufacture."

The Dark Web and Cryptocurrency Schemes

Scam operations in Myawaddy, particularly call-center "love scams" — often referred to as "pig butchering" — bring in massive profits. In these scams, a third party gains a victim's trust and convinces them to invest all of their money into cryptocurrency, which immediately disappears. Cyber law expert Pawan Duggal warns that coercing people to commit cybercrimes in the real world has become a new trend.

A Lack of Global Cooperation

Recent cases in Myanmar show that current legal frameworks are completely obsolete when it comes to preventing such cases. The lack of an international cyberlaw treaty and weak global cooperation is a major challenge. Indian authorities have made multiple arrests related to illegal recruitment activities, but shadowy organizations continue to emerge.

Improving Cyber Awareness

While legislation and stronger enforcement are important, experts emphasize that people's cyber awareness and cyber hygiene levels need to be constantly updated and improved. "The government must play a crucial role in this regard," says Duggal. "However, the role of other stakeholders is equally important in enhancing cyber awareness."