Enslavement of Indian Nationals by Cybercrime Rings in Southeast Asia
Indian nationals rescued from enslavement by cybercrime rings in Southeast Asia have been brought home from Thailand by the Indian Air Force. Criminal gangs used fake job ads to lure people into camps where they were enslaved as email and telephone scammers. Victims were forced to work in rackets such as crypto fraud, illegal online gambling, and online dating swindles. Wang Xing, a young Chinese actor, was kidnapped by Thai gangsters and rescued in a secretive operation by Thai police. Southeast Asian governments cracked down on scam centers, leading to the rescue of over 7,000 prisoners. Organized crime experts say most scam rings are run by Chinese bosses.
Key Points
- Criminal gangs used fake job ads to lure victims into scam centers
- Victims were forced to work in illegal activities like crypto fraud and online gambling
- Chinese actor Wang Xing was kidnapped and held captive by Thai gangsters
- Over 7,000 prisoners were rescued in police raids
- Most scam rings are run by Chinese bosses
Pros
- Successful rescue operation by the Indian Air Force
- International crackdown led to the rescue of over 7,000 prisoners
- Governments taking action to dismantle scam centers
Cons
- Victims were subjected to beatings and torture
- Criminal gangs made billions of dollars in profit
- Chinese citizens treated as criminals upon repatriation