In recent times, the number of missing Indians who seemingly vanished in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam are on the rise. This trend is not something new. In fact, this has been going on for more than a couple of years now. What really bothers us is the fact that the number of people reported missing has hit over 29,000 which sounds nothing less than a nightmare.
Indians who went missing in these regions were often under Visitor Visa and according to latest reports, they were lured under the pretext of employment. People trapped in these South Asian countries are suspected to be the victims of cyber slavery.
They are believed to be working under in-humane conditions and are being puppets who are forced to run scam operations.
In this article, let’s explore the way this heinous act works and the ways one can use to detect it at the earliest.
What is Cyber Slavery?
Before we dive into the details of the unfortunate incident, we have to know about cyber slavery. Cyber slavery is a form of human trafficking wherein individuals/victims are forced to work for a criminal organisation.
The work carried out by victims will usually be some form of digital fraud. Lately, most of the people that were involved in the cyber slavery in these parts were forced to shell shady crypto projects.
If the victims failed to comply, they were threatened and according to few sources beaten as well. Survivors of this type of operation reveal the outrageous things they had to endure and it gives everyone chills to say the least.
Is it a Regional Problem?
When this possible cyber slavery incident came to light, the question most people asked was – Is this a regional issue? While there is no simple answer, we can make an attempt to connect the dots in reverse. The loose regulations in these regions have made it a lucrative spot for the criminals.
Of course, there are other issues as well, but the lack of regulation and immigration loopholes are the main reason. It is a problem that has to be addressed by multiple angles such as domestic bodies, law enforcement authorities and the immigration.
Political instability is also a huge hurdle and optimistically thinking, it isn’t something that can be addressed in a few months.
Cyber Slavery Warning Signs
Every type of scam leaves behind bread crumbs. Learning the ways they operate allows individuals to navigate the problem more effectively and keep danger at bay. Here are the checklists to go over:
- Sense of Urgency – Scammers push people towards taking immediate action because they know that they have a limited window. If the job offer from the countries listed above is using any kind of pressure tactics, then it should be an early warning sign. Remember, legit firms never force candidates to send them the documents or to relocate. In fact, legitimate firms pay the employees and give them at least a 2 week window on average.
- Too good to be true offers – If the job offers offered by a questionable entity are too good to be true, always take a step back. Things like data entry almost never pays an attractive sum. For any reason, if the job being advertised promises outstanding compensation, be aware of them. After all, if it was that easy to get good pay in these regions, why would they offer it to a foreigner.
- Lack of proper documentation – If you are considering to shift to South East Asia for work, then make sure the company you want to work for has all the required documents posted on their website. Things like incorporation certificates are relatively easy to spot using public resources. In case, if you are unable to find all the required documents, request for them before proceeding in any way. At the end of the day, it is our duty to ensure our safety and sacrificing a few days to determine the legitimacy is a fair use of the time.
- Others – Scammers usually take away the passport of the victims making it harder for them to get back to their home country. If this type of unfortunate incident happens to you, do not let that particular aspect hold you back. As a rule of thumb, individuals shouldn’t give out their passport to anyone. If the situation demands and you are convinced, hand over the photocopy not the original itself. Plus, do not make any payment to get the job as no legitimate firm would ask for such a thing.
Conclusion
According to news sources, the Indian government has set up a task force to address the issue at hand. While it might take time, we believe the government can track the missing individuals and set up measures to ensure the prevention of cyber slavery.
On the other hand, we do believe people also should do their part by staying vigilant and reporting anything that matches the description discussed in this blog post.