Publisher's Synopsis
In recent years, investigative reports and global news agencies have uncovered a dark underbelly of cyber fraud syndicates operating across Southeast Asia. International media houses such as BBC, Reuters, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera have reported on the plight of skilled professionals lured by fraudulent recruiters with the promise of lucrative jobs abroad - only to be trapped in scam call centres under inhumane conditions.
Reports from The Times of India and Bangkok Post detailed shocking accounts of young men and women from India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries being trafficked to cities like Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Yangon. Stripped of their passports, subjected to brutal working hours, and forced to run online scams targeting victims worldwide, these individuals found themselves trapped in a nightmare orchestrated by transnational crime syndicates. In 2023, a CNN investigative documentary exposed the horrifying reality of these scam centres, operated under the guise of IT firms, where employees faced relentless mental and physical torture. Many who resisted were reportedly subjected to electric shocks, starvation, and public beatings to instil fear in others. The Hindustan Times reported on multiple rescue operations conducted by international task forces in Cambodia and Thailand, leading to the deportation of dozens of victims. However, for every raid that took place, hundreds of such scam centres continued to flourish, backed by powerful and elusive masterminds. The Mastermind is inspired by these real events - where desperation, deception, and crime intertwine in an intricate web of exploitation. Set in Bangkok, this novel follows the story of a kingpin who built his fraudulent empire by enslaving skilled professionals. But his invincibility is challenged when law enforcement agencies, whistleblowers, and fearless journalists converge to bring his empire down. This is not just a crime story - it is a reflection of a harsh reality that continues to unfold in the shadows of globalization.
