Over 5,000 Indians are trapped in Cambodia, where they are allegedly being held against their will and forced to carry out cyber fraud activities targeting people in India. The government suspects that within the last six months, these fraudsters have defrauded Indian residents of at least Rs 500 crore. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had recently called a meeting with the heads of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) and Indian Cyber Crime. In this, a strategy is being made to rescue and bring back Indian citizens stranded in Cambodia.What is Cyber Slavery Cyber slavery is also known as digital slavery or online slavery. Through digital platforms and technology, people are exploited and forced to commit crimes. This includes forced labour, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and enslaving of individuals. Cyber slaves are used to commit fraud on internet-based tools, communication channels and online platforms.In cyber slavery, the internet is used to recruit, control and exploit criminals. In this, initially people are lured with the promise of job, marriage or financial benefits. Once trapped, victims are often forced to perform various tasks against their will.Possible reasons of Cyber Slavery-Victims may be forced to work long hours in abusive conditions without adequate pay or rest. They may be forced to perform tasks such as data entry, online content making, or digital marketing for little or no compensation.-Human traffickers use cyber platforms to recruit, transport and exploit victims for forced sex work or labor. Traffickers may use social media, online classifieds or underground websites to lure customers or advertise victims for exploitation.-Criminals can use the Internet to groom, exploit, or coerce individuals to engage in sexual activity or work online.How to prevent yourself from Cyber Slavery Strong Passwords: Create complex, unique passwords for every account. Software Updates: Keep your operating system, browser, and other software updated with the latest security patches.Secure Wi-Fi: Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities. If you must use it, consider a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your traffic.Watch Downloads: Only download files from trusted sources. Be cautious of free software or enticing offers that seem too good to be true.Job Scams: Be wary of online job offers promising high pay with little effort. Research companies before applying.Phishing Attacks: Dont click on suspicious links or attachments in emails or messages. Verify senders before opening anything.Social Media Privacy: Review your social media privacy settings and limit what information is publicly available. This can prevent criminals from using personal details for social engineering attacks.Cybersecurity News: Stay updated on common cyber threats and scams. This can help you recognize suspicious activity.Report Phishing: If you encounter a phishing attempt, report it to the relevant platform or authority.
