Kerala Job Seekers Trapped in Myanmar Scam Network

Speedy Summary

• Increasing numbers of youth from Kerala seeking overseas employment are falling victim to cyber scams in Myanmar, especially in Myawaddy.
• Vishnu Preetha Sreenarayanan from kollam was recently rescued after over two months under a cyber fraud gang’s custody.
• Vishnu’s family paid ₹5 lakh to secure his release after he was subjected to degrading conditions and forced into scam-related work.
• Initially, Vishnu planned to travel for a data entry job in Jordan but later accepted an offer for receptionist/data entry work in Thailand. Upon arrival, he was trafficked into Myanmar instead.
• Efforts are underway by MPs like N.K. Premachandran and K.C. Venugopal to repatriate Indian nationals held by human trafficking gangs in Myanmar, including appeals to the Minister of External Affairs for intervention regarding 44 Indians currently detained there.
• since July 2024, a total of 840 Indians have been rescued from scam centres at Myawaddy; notable rescues occurred as recently as March 2025 involving Keralites as part of larger efforts led by NoRKA Roots with awareness campaigns about Southeast Asian employment traps.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The troubling rise in human trafficking cases involving youths from Kerala is symptomatic of vulnerabilities within India’s labour migration systems-particularly when unregulated private agencies promise lucrative overseas roles without adequate vetting or safeguards against fraudsters abroad. The proactive interventions by MPs and organizations like NoRKA Roots highlight India’s increasing focus on protecting its citizens globally while curbing the exploitation associated with travel/visit visas marketed as quick routes for IT jobs.

This situation underscores the need for rigorous pre-employment checks when pursuing jobs overseas and stronger bilateral agreements with countries were scams transpire frequently, such as Southeast asia’s tourism hotspots turned exploitative networks. Improving outreach efforts through highly visible social media campaigns could also deter future occurrences while providing critical awareness about suspicious recruitment practices targeting vulnerable job seekers domestically.published: July 11, 2025 | Read more: