Team Herald
PANJIM: A Goan youth, who was allegedly trapped on pretext of providing a job in Thailand and later subjected to exploitative working conditions in Myanmar is among 283 Indian nationals rescued by the Ministry Of External Affairs (MEA) from Myanmar.
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According to police, in January 2025, the victim, a young engineering graduate from Goa, seeking overseas employment, came across a recruitment advertisement on Instagram for a call centre job in Thailand.
The job offer included attractive terms such as free accommodation, food, and a monthly salary of Rs 60,000. The recruitment process was conducted entirely online, with the individual communicating with the agent via WhatsApp, without any direct interaction. The agent facilitated his travel arrangements, including the flight booking to Bangkok.
Upon arrival in Thailand on a tourist visa on January 14, 2025, the youth was initially accommodated at a resort in Mae Sot. However, the following day, he was clandestinely transported across the border into Myanmar via a river crossing. Upon reaching Myanmar, he was confined within a secured compound, heavily guarded and isolated, with no means of independent movement, police said.
Subsequently, he was subjected to exploitative working conditions, being required to work 14-hour shifts daily without any weekly off. He was assigned to a team under a foreign national acting as a supervisor. His role involved sending mass messages to hundreds of potential victims, primarily US citizens, using fraudulent pretexts. Any responses received were escalated to senior operatives who engaged in further deceptive practices, including investment fraud and honey trapping, police added.
Meanwhile, Cyber Crime SP Rahul Gupta said, “It is again reiterated that foreign-based jobs should only be applied through MEA registered agents. In all other cases, there is a high chance of fraud. Citizens must stay vigilant and report any such suspecting agents to Cyber Police Station or local Police Station. Citizens can report through the 1930 helpline or Cybercrime.gov.in website.”
It may be noted that Goa NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar had informed local media last month that eight Goans have been stranded in Thailand after they were lured by the promise of lucrative jobs and that efforts were on to rescue them.
