Lured by fake job offers, a group of people from India have been trapped for over three weeks in an alleged fraudulent digital scam centre in the Myawaddy region of Myanmar, where they are forced into conducting online scams under brutal and inhuman circumstances.
Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday (May 28, 2026), one member of the group requested immediate intervention for rescue and repatriation by the Indian government, adding that the vicious situation brought extreme mental trauma for them.
“We were recruited by agents on the false assurance of legal employment in construction and architectural work in Yangon, Myanmar, with the promised stable jobs, salary, accommodation, and safe working conditions. Believing these assurances, our group of three individuals travelled from India to Myanmar in the first week of May 2026,” told Mohammad Usman Ansari, a native of Padrauna in Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh.
“However, after reaching Myanmar, we were taken 700 km away from Yangon, the place is surrounded by mountains and neighbouring jungles, and there is no human habitation. From day one, the situation turned highly exploitative and dangerous. Instead of the promised construction-related work, we were forced into cyber scam-related activities under coercive conditions,” Mr. Anari said
“We are being compelled to engage in scam-related operations by using certain mobile applications. A group of 25-30 people from China are controlling this area. Our movement and freedom are severely restricted. We are facing extreme mental pressure, fear, and unsafe living conditions. Suicidal tendencies are coming in our mind daily as time passes. We demand immediate intervention for rescue by the Indian government,” Mr. Ansari said. Along with him, Mohammad Hasan Raza, another Kushinagar resident and one Kumar Anuranjan from Sitamarhi district, Bihar is also trapped.
The trio alleged that their passports had been snatched by the scamsters and anti-social elements after they reached Myanmar, making them unable to return to India independently. They fear retaliation and further exploitation if they resist or attempt escape, adding that some more Indians are likely to be in the same condition in the isolated area.
The family members of Mr. Ansari reached out to one Uttar Pradesh-based Madad Foundation, a human rights organisation working extensively on migrant worker protection and human trafficking, seeking urgent help. The foundation’s founder Rajesh Mani wrote a letter to India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Myanmar, requesting safety and rescue of these individuals and to facilitate their safe and urgent repatriation to India.
“Three Indian nationals currently trapped in Myanmar under exploitative and fraudulent circumstances. Travel records and Myanmar visa approval documents shared with by the family and the individuals clearly indicate that the victims entered Myanmar through Yangon International Airport in May 2026 for purported employment purposes. But, the present condition and conversation with them suggest circumstances of human trafficking, cheating, labour exploitation, coercion, and possible cybercrime linked forced labour, which are grave violation of human rights and migrant workers protection,” reads the letter by Mr. Mani, to Indian authorities on May 19.
Mr. Mani demanded immediate consular access and protection to the affected Indian nationals, coordinate with concerned Myanmar authorities for their safety and rescue, facilitate their safe and urgent repatriation to India and necessary steps against fraudulent recruitment and trafficking networks involved in the matter.
“This issue reflects the growing vulnerability of Indian migrant workers falling prey to fraudulent overseas recruitment and organised cyber scam trafficking networks operating in foreign countries,” he told The Hindu.
In response to the organisation’s outreach and petitions, the Embassy of India in Yangon on May 21 replied that the matter is being followed up vigorously with the concerned Union, State and local Myanmar authorities for rescue and repatriation of the Indian nationals.
“Request for rescue and repatriation of Mr. Anuranjan Kumar, Mr. Usman Ansari and Mr. Hasan Raza have already been sent to concerned authorities. The matter is being followed up vigorously with concerned Union, State and local Myanmar authorities to speed up the rescue works,” reads the response from Consular Section, Embassy of India, Yangon.
The Embassy in its response reiterated that job offers should not be accepted without proper verification getting done through concerned authorities. But, despite the assurance the Indian national said nothing is happening on the ground which can give them hope of return to India. “We are trapped and losing any hope of surviving, suicidal tendencies are coming in our mind daily as time passes,” told Mr. Ansari, the trapped Indian national, hailing from U.P.
Published – May 29, 2026 05:40 am IST
