The Ministry of Defence has issued a warning about a large-scale recruitment racket luring Sri Lankans and other foreign nationals into forced labour at cybercrime centres in East Asia.
According to the Ministry, an estimated 50,000 people from various countries — including Sri Lanka — have been deceived with fake offers of information technology jobs. At least five such cybercrime hubs have been identified, using social media advertisements to target job seekers.
In recent weeks, eleven Sri Lankans have reportedly fallen victim to the scam and are being coerced into illegal operations. The scheme also targets Sri Lankans working in Dubai, promising fraudulent IT positions in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
The National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons has urged the public to remain vigilant, use only legal channels for overseas employment, and report any suspicious offers to authorities without delay.
