Mumbai Man Falls Prey to Cyber Slavery in Thailand

A disturbing case of cyber slavery has come to light in Mumbai, where a man from Dharashiv was lured with a fake job offer in Thailand and forced to engage in online cybercrimes. The incident occurred in April, when the victim's brother came across a job advertisement on Facebook for a hotel in Bangkok, offering a monthly salary of Rs 80,000.

The victim, a resident of Khed in Dharashiv, informed his family about the job opportunity and left for Pune on April 29, before heading to Bangkok on May 1. However, his family soon received a distressing call from him, alleging that he was abducted by unknown men from outside the airport and taken to an unknown location by boat. The victim claimed that he was forced to work for around 18 hours a day, carrying out online frauds, and was subjected to torture, including electric shocks, if he failed to meet the demands of the scammers.

The scammers also took away the victim's passport, other important documents, and mobile phone, leaving him stranded. The victim further revealed that around 12 more people from Maharashtra were trapped in the syndicate with him and pleaded with his family to rescue him. On June 17, the victim shared his location with his family, which was on the Thailand-Myanmar border, but since then, there has been no contact with him.

The victim's family approached the police, who registered an offence in the matter under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The police are currently investigating the case and trying to locate the victim. The incident highlights the growing concern of cyber slavery and human trafficking, where victims are lured with fake job offers and forced into online fraud and other illegal activities.

The case has sparked concerns about the safety of individuals who fall prey to such scams, and the need for increased awareness and vigilance to prevent such incidents. The police are urging people to be cautious when responding to job offers, especially those that seem too good to be true, and to verify the authenticity of such offers before taking any action.

As the investigation continues, the police are working to rescue the victim and bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant and cautious in the digital age, where cyber scams and human trafficking are becoming increasingly common. The police are also appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may help in the investigation and rescue of the victim.

In a related development, the CBI recently arrested two key accused in a cyber slavery and human trafficking network linked to Southeast Asia. The arrests highlight the growing efforts of law enforcement agencies to crack down on such scams and bring the perpetrators to justice. As the investigation into the Mumbai case continues, the police are hopeful of rescuing the victim and bringing an end to the cyber slavery syndicate,