More than 25 youths from Maharashtra, including eight from Nashik, are allegedly being held in cyber fraud compounds along the Thailand-Myanmar border after being lured abroad with promises of lucrative jobs, according to their families, who have appealed to authorities for urgent intervention.

The families claim the victims were recruited through fake employment offers and later forced into cyber scam operations. Several relatives have approached state authorities seeking assistance, amid allegations of physical abuse, long working hours and demands for ransom from those running the camps.

Nashik Man Describes Alleged Abuse Inside Camp

One of the victims, a 30-year-old man from Nashik whose identity has been withheld, recently contacted his family and described the conditions inside the facility where he has allegedly been held since April 25.

According to his family, he had travelled to Thailand after a friend offered him a call centre job in Bangkok with a promised monthly salary of Rs 70,000. A Class 12 graduate and former merchant navy worker, he reportedly left India in search of better employment opportunities.

Instead, he was allegedly taken to a remote area near the Thailand-Myanmar border by unidentified individuals and confined there. His captors are said to have demanded Rs 8 lakh for his release.

During a WhatsApp call with family members, the man alleged that those detained in the camp are forced to work for up to 18 hours a day under harsh conditions.

“We are made to work for 18 hours every day. We are served food that even rats and cockroaches would not eat,” he reportedly told his family.

He further claimed that recruits were provided a month of training and paid only a nominal amount. According to his account, those who refuse to work are tied up and subjected to electric shocks, while women held at the facility are also allegedly tortured.

Families Appeal To State Government

The Nashik resident told his family that around 25 people from Maharashtra, including eight from Nashik, are being held at the compound. Some of the victims are reportedly from Beed and Dharashiv districts.

Relatives of another victim told India Today TV that they remain deeply concerned about his safety and have urged the government to take immediate action to secure the release of all those trapped.

With assistance from BJP corporator Prashant Dive, several affected families have approached Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan seeking intervention.

According to the families, Mahajan has informed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the issue and assured them that efforts are underway to facilitate the safe return of the victims. They also said the minister had spoken to some of the trapped youths and offered reassurance.

Victims Allegedly Forced Into Online Fraud Operations

Dive said he had been in contact with some of the detained individuals, including three youths from his ward. Based on their accounts, those held in the camps are allegedly forced to create fake social media profiles and develop online relationships to deceive potential victims.

He alleged that detainees are then instructed to persuade targets to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes and other online scams. Individuals who fail to meet targets are reportedly beaten, while as many as 20 people are confined to a single room.

Drawing on testimonies from the Nashik victim and another youth from Beed, families claim that more than 25 people from Maharashtra and over 400 Indians nationwide may currently be trapped in similar facilities.

Growing Concern Over Overseas Job Scams

Authorities and families say organised criminal syndicates operating from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and neighbouring countries have increasingly targeted Indian job seekers through fraudulent recruitment advertisements on social media platforms.

Victims are typically promised high-paying positions in sectors such as information technology, digital marketing, customer support and data entry. After arriving in the destination country, they are allegedly transported to cyber fraud compounds and forced to participate in online investment scams, cryptocurrency fraud and other financial crimes.

Families and victims have alleged that passports are often confiscated and that those unable to meet fraud quotas face physical abuse and other forms of punishment.

The issue has surfaced repeatedly in recent years. In January 2026, more than 120 people from Andhra Pradesh were rescued from cyber crime compounds in Myanmar in a similar operation, highlighting the growing threat posed by transnational job scam networks targeting Indian citizens.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share