Myanmar fake job scam: India secures repatriation of 283 nationals

All the Indian nationals were repatriated to India by an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft from Mae Sot in Thailand, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

"The Government of India has been making sustained efforts to secure the release and repatriation of Indian nationals lured to various southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, with fake job offers," MEA said.

MEA said these persons were made to indulge in cybercrime and engage in other fraudulent activities in scam centres operating in regions along the Myanmar-Thailand border.

"The Government of India wishes to reiterate its caution, circulated earlier from time to time through advisories and social media posts, about such rackets," MEA said.

Advisory

The Indian government advised to verify credentials of foreign employers through Missions abroad and check the antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before taking up a job offer.

Nearly 2,000 Indians Involved In Cyber Scam In Myanmar

Nearly 2,000 Indian nationals are currently involved in cyber scam-related activities in Myanmar’s Myawaddy town, a region located close to the border with Thailand.

The area is ruled by armed militia groups.

The Indian nationals, many of whom were lured by fake job offers, are being forced to carry out online fraud targeting victims across India and the US, reported The Times of India.

Authorities have rescued some of the victims but the true scale of the scam is expected to be large.

According to reports, several of them are still not aware of the dangers they face.

Missing Indians

Quoting official data, Indian newspaper Business Standard reported that 29,466 Indians, who travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam, between January 2022 and May 2024 on visitor visas have not returned.