Ahmedabad: Cyber Centre of Excellence of the CID (crime) on Wednesday arrested two men from Surat for allegedly recruiting unemployed youths from India and sending them to cyberfraud centres in Southeast Asia, where they were forced to work in scam operations under conditions described as being similar to modern-day slavery.Officials said the accused — Dhruv Dobariya from Kamrej, Surat, and Kaushik Pethani from Mota Varachha in Surat, both aged around 35 — were part of a network that targeted jobseekers from Gujarat and other states by promising lucrative employment opportunities abroad.According to officers at the Cyber Centre of Excellence, the duo used WhatsApp and Telegram to approach unemployed youth and offer them jobs at IT companies or data entry positions in countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Victims were assured high salaries, along with free accommodation and meals. Investigators said the recruitment process was designed to appear legitimate. “Candidates were asked to join Telegram groups where videos of typing speed tests and interview-like procedures were shared to convince them that the job offer was genuine,” an officer said.However, once the youths reached the foreign destinations, the reality was drastically different. Police said their passports and mobile phones were immediately confiscated, and they were kept inside guarded compounds. The victims were then allegedly forced to carry out online fraud, including cryptocurrency scams, investment fraud, and other forms of cyber deception targeting people worldwide.Officials said those who refused to cooperate were subjected to intimidation, physical abuse and psychological pressure. “They were not allowed to leave the premises or return to India, effectively trapping them in cyberfraud camps,” an officer said.The investigation revealed that the accused had links with international cyber syndicates and Chinese cybercrime groups that operate such scam centres in Southeast Asia. Authorities said the duo earlier travelled to several countries, including Thailand, the UAE and Sri Lanka, where they were allegedly involved in similar cyber fraud operations.Officials added that after authorities in Cambodia and Myanmar intensified crackdowns on such networks, the syndicates started planning to shift their operations to other countries such as Georgia and South Africa. Investigators seized two high-end smartphones, including iPhone 17 Pro models, from the accused. Police said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and locate victims who may still be trapped in overseas scam centres.
