Teen Escapes Forced Cybercrime Operation in Laos; Telangana Police Investigate
A 19-year-old from Hyderabad narrowly escaped a cyber slavery racket in Laos, exposing a large-scale fraud scheme targeting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the United States. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) is now investigating the case, which involves sextortion, cryptocurrency scams, and forced labor run by Chinese nationals under the guise of fake call center jobs, as reported by The New Indian Express.
How the Victim Was Lured Into the Scam
The victim, whose identity remains protected, revealed that a Kashmiri travel agent named Ashique Baba contacted him via Facebook, offering a lucrative data entry job with a monthly salary of ₹1.20 lakh. Enticed by the offer, the teen traveled to Bangkok in December 2023.
From there, he was taken to Laos by an Ethiopian man named Bell, where he met a Chinese manager of a fraudulent call center. The teen was forced to sign a contract, surrender his passport and phone, and undergo 15 days of cybercrime training.
“When I asked to return to India, they demanded $3,000 to release my passport,” the victim told TGCSB.
Inside the Cyber Fraud Operation
The victim was trained to:
✔ Create fake female profiles using stolen social media images.
✔ Send friend requests to men in the US, particularly NRIs.
✔ Engage in romantic and sexually suggestive chats to build trust.
✔ Hand over “successful” targets to senior scammers for crypto fraud.
How the Cryptocurrency Scam Worked
- Fake Investment Portals – Fraudsters used manipulated websites showing fake profits.
- Small Withdrawals Allowed – Victims were initially permitted to withdraw small amounts to build trust.
- Large Investments Frozen – Once victims invested heavily, their accounts were blocked, and they were asked to pay fake “government taxes” to recover funds.
No Pay, No Escape: A Modern-Day Cyber Slavery Case
Despite a contract promising 20,000 yuan (approx. ₹2.3 lakh) per month, the victim never received payment. After months of exploitation, he escaped with the help of locals and sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in Laos. Officials arranged an emergency passport and safely repatriated him.
Key Takeaways & Warning Signs
✔ Too-good-to-be-true job offers (especially on social media).
✔ Requests to surrender passports or pay for “visa processing.”
✔ Unsolicited romantic messages leading to investment scams.
What Should You Do?
✔ Verify job offers through official channels.
✔ Never share personal documents with unverified employers.
✔ Report suspicious messages to cybercrime authorities.
Telangana Police’s Investigation
The TGCSB is tracking the Kashmiri agent and Chinese operatives involved. Interpol may be roped in as the scam spans multiple countries.
Have You Faced Similar Fraud?
If you or someone you know has been targeted, contact the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
