Mumbai | Special Correspondent
In a chilling revelation of how digital job scams can lead to human trafficking and cyber slavery, the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Security Corporation (MCCSC), under the leadership of Additional Director General of Police Yashasvi Yadav, successfully rescued 60 Indian youths from the clutches of cyber fraud syndicates in Myanmar. These youths were lured with the promise of high-paying jobs abroad, only to be forced into cybercrime operations in heavily guarded camps across the Myanmar-Thailand border.
A Promise of Opportunity, A Descent into Slavery
The scam started innocuously — job advertisements on social media platforms offering lucrative positions overseas, complete with visa and air ticket assistance. Thousands applied, and those selected, especially those with strong communication skills, were flown to Thailand. Upon landing, they were received by agents who transported them for hours across the Thai-Myanmar border, eventually bringing them to fortified cybercrime camps in rebel-controlled territories of Myanmar.
The victims were then forced to sign fake contracts with shell companies and coerced into executing online frauds targeting people around the world. Those who refused faced brutal physical and psychological torture. Threats of organ harvesting and armed guards stationed around the camps ensured no one could escape.
A Bollywood Twist: Racket Headed by Aspiring Actor
The mastermind behind this cyber slavery racket is Manish Gray aka Mandi, an aspiring actor with roles in web series and TV serials. He was responsible for recruiting Indian youths through fraudulent job campaigns, orchestrating their travel, and handing them over to the cybercrime networks operating in Myanmar. Manish and four others — Aditya Ravi Chandran, Rupnarayan Ramdhar Gupta, Jency Rani D, and a foreign national Talaniti Nusaxi Naijiz — were arrested in a multi-agency operation.
The foreign national Talaniti, believed to be a recruiter for multiple camps, was caught during a new hiring campaign. According to police sources, each victim was sold for $1,000 to the cybercrime syndicates.
Crackdown Inspired by Parental Plea
The operation began when a few trapped youths managed to contact their families. Alarmed parents approached Indian authorities, and the case reached the Maharashtra Cyber Cell. A detailed report was submitted to the central government, which coordinated with Thai and Myanmar authorities. The coordinated efforts led to the rescue of 60 Indian victims, many from Maharashtra.
Speaking at a press conference, ADGP Yashasvi Yadav stated, “This is not just a cybercrime rescue, it’s a modern-day slavery bust. These youths were turned into tools of global online fraud. Had we not intervened, they would still be scamming people worldwide — against their will.”
Systematic Exploitation with Global Links
Investigations reveal that the racket was part of a larger transnational network, operating across Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and even parts of India. Victims were trained to defraud global citizens through phishing, fake investment platforms, and romantic scams — all under surveillance, with no freedom to contact the outside world.
Disturbingly, the rescued youths were also extorted for their own release — some asked to pay up to $5,000 to buy their way out of captivity. In the absence of police intervention, many would have remained trapped indefinitely.
Cyber Gulag in the 21st Century
This incident has exposed the dark underbelly of global cybercrime, where jobless youths are trafficked, enslaved, and forced into online fraud operations. The Maharashtra Cyber Department’s daring cross-border operation has brought this hidden crime into national focus, emphasizing the urgent need for vigilance, international cooperation, and awareness.
The arrested accused are currently in police custody. Officials say that the interrogation is ongoing and is expected to uncover deeper layers of the cyber slavery racket.
Public Advisory:
Job seekers are urged to be cautious of too-good-to-be-true offers, especially those involving overseas placements. Verify every opportunity through government-authorized portals and consult trusted sources before sharing personal documents or making travel arrangements.
This case will likely push for stricter international enforcement and policy overhaul on job-related cyber frauds — a menace rapidly growing in the post-pandemic digital employment landscape.
