Transnational racket of unemployed locals recruited, pushed into cyber scam abroad busted in Kashmir

A transnational racket of unemployed locals recruited and pushed into cyber scam operations abroad surfaced on Thursday during searches conducted by the J&K Police’s special cell, State Investigation Agency (SIA), in south Kashmir’s Kulgam. 

Preliminary investigation has brought to light an alleged modus operandi of local facilitators in coordination with foreign-based handlers luring vulnerable and unemployed youth with offers of employment abroad, the SIA said. “The victims were allegedly moved through Thailand to the Myawaddy region of Myanmar, where they were subsequently subjected to exploitation and allegedly compelled to participate in cyber scam operations,” the SIA said.

The police said the emerging dimensions of the case indicate the involvement of a transnational chain extending across jurisdictions, involving recruitment, movement, facilitation and exploitation of victims. “The investigation is accordingly being pursued to identify the complete network, its local and overseas linkages, and the financial and logistical channels allegedly supporting its operations,” the police said. 

The J&K Police’s special cell has sought cooperation from national agencies and international partners to investigate it.