Fake Singapore job traps 2 Andhra Pradesh youths in Myanmar cyber scam on 26 July 2026
In a disturbing human trafficking incident, two young men from Andhra Pradesh fell victim to an international cyber fraud racket after responding to fake job advertisements on social media. The victims, identified as Sai Baba from Guntur district and Poorna Venkata Krishna from Krishna district, left Vijayawada on 2 April 2026 expecting to take up professional employment in Singapore. However, recruitment agents deceived the job seekers by redirecting their journey to Cambodia. Upon arrival, the youths were forced into illegal cyber crime operations. After spending nearly 2 months in Cambodia, the victims were moved across borders to Myanmar, where criminal syndicates held them captive alongside several other foreign nationals.
The extent of the physical abuse surfaced on 26 July 2026 when 1 of the victims managed to place a brief telephone call to a friend, who arranged a conference call with officials from the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society. During the call, the youths described being locked in dark rooms, denied basic food, and subjected to electric shocks and physical assaults whenever they refused to carry out fraudulent cyber operations. The victims revealed that the criminal network confiscated their passports and essential travel documents upon arrival. Although a few individuals managed to escape the complex, the gang detained 18 persons, including Poorna Venkata Krishna, and demanded 15 lakh rupees per victim as a ransom payment for their release.
Following the distress call, families of the victims initiated formal legal procedures to secure their rescue and return to India. Friends of the trapped youths filed an online complaint with the Ministry of External Affairs on 17 July 2026, followed by a formal petition submitted to the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society on 22 July 2026. On Saturday night, family members of both victims met Police Inspector Veerendra at the Thadepalli Police Station to submit complete operational details and request immediate government intervention through international diplomatic channels. Representatives from the state society assured the grieving families that official rescue efforts are underway in coordination with central authorities.
This alarming case highlights severe risks associated with unverified overseas job postings circulating across online platforms. While young job seekers often pursue international opportunities to improve their financial prospects, illegal recruitment agents exploit regulatory gaps to traffic vulnerable citizens into remote lawless zones. The situation demonstrates the urgent need for stringent verification mechanisms on social media platforms, along with increased public awareness campaigns targeting rural and semi-urban job seekers across the country.
In conclusion, the plight of the 2 Andhra Pradesh youths underscores the dangerous reach of international cyber crime syndicates operating across Southeast Asia. As local police authorities and the Ministry of External Affairs coordinate diplomatic efforts, family members await the safe return of their relatives. The incident serves as a critical reminder for job aspirants to verify overseas employment offers through official government portals before embarking on foreign travel.