Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 21: Two young Tibetan men from Palyul County in Kardze, eastern Tibet, have reportedly been trafficked into a Chinese-run cyber scam compound in Myanmar after being lured by fraudulent job offers, according to the Dharamshala-based Tibetan radio station, Voice of Tibet (VoT).
The criminal network has now demanded a ransom exceeding 500,000 yuan (approximately US$73,000) from their families, threatening that failure to pay would mean the two men would not be released alive.
A source familiar with the incident said the scam primarily targets educated young people, particularly recent university graduates seeking employment. Recruiters allegedly entice victims with promises of high-paying jobs before funnelling them into criminal networks operating in Myanmar.
The two young men were allegedly deceived by a Tibetan woman who assured them they would receive attractive salaries and perform relatively easy work. She reportedly escorted them to Yunnan Province, where they were handed over to operators of a Chinese-run cyber scam compound in Myanmar.
The case reflects a broader trafficking network that has expanded rapidly in recent years. Chinese-run cyber scam syndicates have reportedly recruited and deceived thousands of young people from countries including India, Nepal, China, and Vietnam before transporting them to scam compounds along Myanmar’s border. Victims are often deceived with offers of well-paid technology or office-based jobs before being trafficked across borders and forced to participate in online fraud operations. Once inside these compounds, victims are reportedly subjected to coercion, harsh living conditions, and forced to carry out online financial fraud while their families face extortion demands.
The two Tibetans recently fell victim to such a scheme, triggering deep concern among their families and members of the Tibetan community familiar with the case.
The latest case involving the two young Tibetans highlights the increasing sophistication of cross-border trafficking networks that exploit the aspirations of young job seekers through deceptive recruitment, only to subject them to exploitation and extortion once they arrive in Myanmar’s cyber scam compounds.
