Lately, there have been more reports coming out of Vizag and Vijayawada about unemployed youth getting trapped in overseas job scams, especially in places like Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. Despite repeated warnings, many young people continue to fall for "too good to be true" job offers abroad, which often lead them straight into cybercrime networks.

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?

I believe a significant reason why many continue to fall into these traps is a combination of desperation and a lack of awareness. When someone is unemployed for months and suddenly hears about a job with a “good salary, free food and stay” in another country, it feels like a chance they can’t afford to miss. Scammers know this and play on that hope.

Another problem is that many don’t verify the agencies or job offers properly. These fake agents often operate through local contacts who look trustworthy, so people assume it’s legit. Once they land abroad, it’s too late to turn back.

Honestly, the only way to reduce this is through more awareness campaigns in small towns and villages, strict monitoring of local “job agencies,” and maybe even creating safe government-backed overseas job channels. Until then, these gangs will continue to find ways to exploit the vulnerable.

Have you noticed that most of these scams seem to focus on data entry or hotel jobs? That’s probably because they sound believable and don’t require much experience.

What’s happening here is truly alarming, but unfortunately, not surprising. These cybercrime networks in Southeast Asia have become enormous, and they operate like legitimate businesses. They need workforce, and unemployed youth from places like Vizag and Vijayawada become easy targets because they’re desperate for an opportunity.

The fake job offers are made to appear so convincing — complete with official-looking offer letters, WhatsApp groups labeled as “successful candidates,” and even counterfeit websites for companies. By the time someone realizes it’s a trap, they’re already across the border with their passport taken away.

I think families also need to play a role here. If someone is paying 2–3 lakhs to secure a job abroad, that should immediately raise a red flag. Real jobs typically don’t require such upfront payment. People should always verify if the Ministry of External Affairs has licensed the agency.

It’s sad because even after police warnings, the cycle continues. Until stricter action is taken against these local recruiters and better employment opportunities are created here, I don’t think these scams will stop anytime soon.