Singapore IT Job Offers Turn Into Nightmare

Nearly 100 young people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have allegedly fallen into the hands of a cybercrime network after responding to social media advertisements promising IT jobs in Singapore with monthly salaries of around ₹1.25 lakh. Among those reportedly trapped are Saibaba from Radh Ranga Nagar in the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli Municipal Corporation limits of Guntur district, Poorna Venkata Krishna from Avanigadda in Krishna district and Sriram from Palasa in Srikakulam district. According to information shared by the victims, the recruiters seized their passports and other documents and confined them after taking them abroad. Their friends and relatives lodged an online complaint with the Ministry of External Affairs on July 17 and later approached APNRT on July 22. APNRT representatives reportedly spoke to the victims through a conference call and assured their families that efforts would be made to bring them back safely.

According to the victims’ accounts, Saibaba, Poorna Venkata Krishna and others left Vijayawada on April 2 after being told that they had secured jobs in Singapore, but recruiters allegedly took them to Cambodia instead. They were later moved to Myanmar, where they say they were confined in rooms in a remote area and forced to carry out cyber fraud. The victims alleged that those who refused orders were subjected to electric shocks, confinement in dark rooms and denial of food. They also expressed concern that some women were facing sexual violence. Several victims reportedly attempted to escape in two groups, but 18 were recaptured and allegedly tortured. The gang is said to be demanding ₹15 lakh per person for their release. Families have approached local police and authorities as efforts continue to secure the victims’ safe return.