Rajasthan: ‘Made to Work 14 Hours a Day’, Returned Victims Recount Ordeal as Police Bust International Cyber-Slavery Network, 5 Arrested

Rajasthan Police's State Cyber Crime Team has busted an international gang that lured young people abroad with promises of lucrative jobs, only to hold them captive in Myanmar and other countries and force them into carrying out cyber fraud. Five accused have been arrested in connection with the racket.

Chinese nationals run scam centres, victims lured with dollar salaries

The gang trafficked young people to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar under the promise of high foreign salaries, before holding them captive and forcing them to commit online fraud. Police arrested five members of the gang — two from Rajasthan and three from West Bengal, the latter apprehended just as they were preparing to flee to Myanmar.

Additional Director General (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh said the operation was carried out based on information from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre along with technical evidence. Investigations revealed that the gang lured young people from Beawar, Rajsamand, Udaipur and Sikar with promises of monthly salaries of 800 to 1,000 US dollars (roughly ₹65,000 to ₹80,000), before sending them abroad. These cyber scam centres are reportedly run by Chinese nationals, with gang members defrauding people worldwide through digital arrest scams, fake investment schemes and cryptocurrency fraud.

Passports confiscated, victims subjected to torture

Analysis of the "cyber slavery" database has identified more than 500 young people from Rajasthan who were sent to these countries, many of whom have still not returned to India. Upon arrival abroad, victims had their passports confiscated. Victims who managed to return home said they were beaten and subjected to inhumane torture, and forced to commit crimes against their will. A case was subsequently registered at Jaipur's Cyber Crime police station, and action was initiated.

Made to work 14 hours a day — how victims were trapped

Station House Officer Gajendra Sharma said solid evidence — including WhatsApp chats, VPN usage, the Binance app and contacts with foreign handlers — was recovered from the mobile phones of accused Rajkaran alias Ronny and Sagar Singh, both residents of Beawar. Based on this evidence, Jeeturaj, Ravi Kumar and Anil Kumar were arrested from Kolkata. During questioning, it emerged that captive victims were forced to work 14 hours a day, from 9 am to 11.30 pm. They were given fake social media profiles and trained to befriend people online before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes on fake platforms. The proceeds of the fraud were funnelled to Chinese and other foreign handlers via USDT. More than 60 people working at the facility were said to be mostly Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals.