Kozhikode: Seven youths who were victims of a job scam in Cambodia reached home on Monday. The gang, who plan to travel to Thailand for work, managed to escape illegal detention in Cambodia with the help of a taxi driver before seeking refuge at the Indian Embassy.

The scam ring lured young people with promises of employment at an advertising company in Thailand. On October 4, they left for Thailand through Anurag, a native of Cherandathoor. The gang collected Rs 1.5 lakh from each of them. However, instead of taking them to Thailand, the gang diverted them to a cyber fraud center in Cambodia.

Realizing the high-risk nature of their assigned work, the youths attempted to retreat but were held captive by the gang. They were physically assaulted, denied food and water and suffered multiple injuries. The gang threatened to kill them if they contacted anyone at home. The youths eventually managed to escape with the help of a taxi driver and sought refuge at the embassy, ​​leading to their safe return to India.