Six Indian citizens trapped in a job scam in Myanmar’s town of Myawaddy have been released and are awaiting deportation to India, the Indian embassy in the country announced Saturday. This brings the total number of Indians rescued from such scams since July to over 100.
The embassy has reported an increase in Indians falling victim to criminal groups operating scams along the Myanmar-Thailand border. Victims are lured with fake job offers and forced into cyber slavery.
“6 more Indian nationals trapped at scam-compounds in Myawaddy reached the local police station, for further deportation to India, y’day. 101 Indians repatriated to India since July 2024. We reiterate our advice against job offers in the area without consulting Missions,” the embassy posted on X.
Myawaddy, a key trade hub between Myanmar and Thailand, has become a hotspot for such scams. The Indian Embassy strongly advises against accepting job offers, particularly those advertised on social media, without verifying them with the embassy. The embassy’s website prominently features a warning about these scams.
The embassy also identified Hpa Lu, south of Myawaddy, as a new trafficking location for Indian victims, often via Thailand. Many victims are recruited from India, Malaysia, and the UAE. The embassy has published a list of suspected agents and companies involved in these scams, along with a contact number for assistance.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed Parliament on Friday that the government has requested the blocking of certain websites promoting fake jobs and the prosecution of those responsible. He revealed that 1,167 Indians have been returned from Cambodia and 497 from Myanmar after being lured by false job promises and forced into illegal work through online scams.
M Rajkumar, Protector of Emigrants for Tamil Nadu, urged job seekers to exercise caution when considering employment opportunities in Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. He stressed the importance of using only licensed recruitment agents authorised by the ministry of external affairs. “It is crucial to ensure that overseas employment is arranged only through licensed recruitment agents authorised by the ministry of external affairs (MEA),” he said.