Cyber Slavery: Menace Of Online Exploitation — Warning Signs, Prevention & Escape Strategies

What Is Cyber Slavery: Coercion or trafficking of individuals to commit online scams for organized criminal networks. Victims are forced to engage in illegal cyber activities like online fraud, identity theft, or phishing, often under death threats. Many victims fall prey to financial desperation or unemployment, making them vulnerable to these scams. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

Criminals use fake job listings, especially for roles in foreign countries, to attract victims, promising high-paying opportunities. Criminals conduct fake interviews, provide false contracts and issue fabricated travel documents to gain the trust of victims. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

Criminals operate both online (through social media and job portals) and offline (agents in local communities) to carry out the deception. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

To evade detection, criminals frequently move between cities and countries, using fake identities and addresses. By setting up fake companies, they create an appearance of legitimacy, making it harder for law enforcement to trace their real operations. Criminals use encrypted forms of communication, anonymous online transactions and fake social media profiles to cover their tracks and avoid detection. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

Red Flags To Identify Cyber Slavery: Be wary of job offers that seem too good to be true, especially those offering high salaries for minimal qualifications. Genuine employers do not demand large sums of money in advance as a service charge or recruitment fee. Be cautious if the recruiter uses unofficial email addresses, lacks professional communication or avoids face-to-face interactions. Use official government websites, embassies or official organisations to verify job offers abroad. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

How To Avoid Getting Trapped: Before applying for any overseas job, conduct thorough research into the company, recruiter and job offer to confirm their authenticity. Share your travel plans and contact details with family members when travelling abroad for work. Save copies of emails, contracts and conversations with recruiters in case they are needed as evidence later. Be wary of recruiters who pressurise you into making quick decisions or paying large sums upfront. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

What To Do If You Are Trapped: Reach out to local law enforcement in the country where you are being held or contact your country's embassy for immediate help. If possible, use trusted individuals or fellow employees to help report your situation to authorities if your captors are monitoring your communication. If possible, avoid participating in cyber scams you are being forced into and try to delay or resist complying with your captors' demands. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

What To Do If You Are Trapped: Document as much information as possible about your captors, location and operations you are being forced into to assist law enforcement in rescuing you. Seek Help Through International Agencies: Contact organisations such as Interpol or NGOs that work to combat human trafficking. Carefully plan any communication attempts to avoid further danger from your captors. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

Cyber Slavery On The Rise: Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand and Cambodia) is emerging as a hotspot for these criminal activities. [Image Courtesy: PTI]

Difficult to Track and Rescue: As these activities happen behind closed doors in foreign countries, tracking and rescuing victims becomes difficult. [Image Courtesy: PTI]