Youth Deceived by Overseas Job Scams, Forced into Cyber-Crimes

Cyber fraudsters are increasingly targeting young Indians eager to secure IT jobs in countries like Dubai, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. Under the guise of offering lucrative overseas employment, these criminals lure youths into their networks and force them to commit cyber-crimes.

This fraud network, once known for scams related to social media and the stock market, has expanded its operations to deceive over 10,000 young people. Advertisements on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp promote high-paying IT jobs in countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. These false promises attract many youths, primarily from Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Upon arrival, these individuals have their passports confiscated and are coerced into illegal activities. The scam targets Indian youths to con people from their own states, exploiting shared language to facilitate the deception.

Karnataka has seen a rise in cybercrime, with 25% of reported crimes in the last year being related to cyber offenses. Despite efforts by law enforcement to raise awareness, these crimes continue to proliferate. The city police commissioner, Anupam Agarwal, highlights that educated individuals from cities like Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Shivamogga are frequently among the victims. The ease of making money and the difficulty in tracking perpetrators have led many criminals to shift their focus to cybercrime.

A notable tactic in these scams involves using photos of attractive Indian women to gain the trust of potential victims. Cyber experts warn that individuals with limited knowledge of cyber activities are particularly vulnerable to these schemes.

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