The police say unemployment is a significant factor here. Gangs are luring young people with promises of data entry or hospitality jobs overseas, but once they arrive, they're forced into cyber fraud. What's even more shocking is that some who were earlier trapped in Cambodia and Laos ended up working for Chinese cybercriminals, and later became agents themselves. Now they're tricking others from Andhra Pradesh into going abroad and ending up in the same situation.

According to the police's explanation, agents (some based abroad and some with contacts in Vizag and Vijayawada) inform these youngsters that they'll secure jobs in Thailand or nearby countries, offering good pay, food, and accommodation. Job seekers, desperate for work, pay anywhere between ₹ 2 and ₹ 3 lakhs. But when they land in Thailand, they realize it's a scam. Then they're trafficked into places like Laos or Cambodia, where they're forced to do cybercrime under constant threats and abuse from the syndicates running the operations.

Not long ago, more than ten youngsters from Andhra Pradesh who were stuck somewhere in Thailand managed to send a video pleading with their families for help. They said they were promised receptionist, hotel, or data entry jobs, but ended up being tortured and forced to work for these gangs.

Investigations have revealed that several shady agencies in Vizag, Vijayawada, and nearby towns are actively involved in sending people abroad under false promises of employment. The victims then become part of large organized cybercrime groups, mainly targeting Indians. The exact number isn't known, but the police believe hundreds from the state may already be involved in this.

The Vizag city police chief has urged job seekers to be extremely cautious and verify the credentials of any agency before taking up job offers abroad. These scams are only growing, and once someone is caught, it's tough to escape.

What do you all think—why are so many still falling for this despite so many warnings? Is it just desperation for jobs, or do these scammers have an upper hand because they make the offers look so genuine?