The article discusses the rise of cybercrime in rural India, particularly among lower-caste individuals who are taking advantage of mobile technology to scam people. The author, a journalist, has been investigating these scams and has spoken to several individuals involved in them, including Jitu, a former scammer who was arrested and released from jail.
Jitu's story is one of disillusionment with the life he had chosen. He recounts how his wife would constantly ask him to buy expensive gifts for her, which he couldn't afford. His mother-in-law was also not allowed to receive money from him, while he was still in prison. When he was finally released, Jitu's life was not as glamorous as it seemed on the surface. His mother had buried 50 phones that he had confiscated, and they were now rotting away due to rainwater.
The article highlights how the scamming business is becoming increasingly uncertain for those involved. New technologies, such as YouTube videos showing scam calls, are making it harder for scammers to succeed. Jitu's friends and relatives have also died over the years, leaving him with a sense of mortality.
Despite these challenges, Jitu feels compelled to continue his work because he has a family to support. His wife needs money, and his sons need education. Even if it means buying votes in elections, Jitu is determined to find new scams to exploit.
The article concludes by noting that the rise of cybercrime in rural India is a complex issue that requires attention from policymakers, law enforcement, and civil society organizations. The author emphasizes that these scammers are not just common criminals but also reflect broader societal issues, such as poverty, inequality, and the lack of opportunities for lower-caste individuals.
Overall, the article presents a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of the cybercrime phenomenon in rural India, highlighting both the challenges faced by those involved and the need for more comprehensive solutions to address this issue.
Jitu's story is one of disillusionment with the life he had chosen. He recounts how his wife would constantly ask him to buy expensive gifts for her, which he couldn't afford. His mother-in-law was also not allowed to receive money from him, while he was still in prison. When he was finally released, Jitu's life was not as glamorous as it seemed on the surface. His mother had buried 50 phones that he had confiscated, and they were now rotting away due to rainwater.
The article highlights how the scamming business is becoming increasingly uncertain for those involved. New technologies, such as YouTube videos showing scam calls, are making it harder for scammers to succeed. Jitu's friends and relatives have also died over the years, leaving him with a sense of mortality.
Despite these challenges, Jitu feels compelled to continue his work because he has a family to support. His wife needs money, and his sons need education. Even if it means buying votes in elections, Jitu is determined to find new scams to exploit.
The article concludes by noting that the rise of cybercrime in rural India is a complex issue that requires attention from policymakers, law enforcement, and civil society organizations. The author emphasizes that these scammers are not just common criminals but also reflect broader societal issues, such as poverty, inequality, and the lack of opportunities for lower-caste individuals.
Overall, the article presents a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of the cybercrime phenomenon in rural India, highlighting both the challenges faced by those involved and the need for more comprehensive solutions to address this issue.
I think its kinda sad that Jitu's wife needs money so bad, he should be able to provide for them without resorting to scams 
. But at the same time, I feel bad for him too cuz he's stuck in a situation where he cant just walk away from it because of his family responsibilities 
. And honestly, its not like he's making easy money or something, hes still gotta deal with all this stress and pressure 
. I think thats what makes scammers so human, they're not just evil ppl, they're just people who feel trapped in their own lives 
, he's just trying to survive and provide for his family, you know? But at the same time, I gotta call out how messed up the whole scamming thing is 
. But can we talk about how the whole system is rigged against lower-caste folks? I mean, they're already getting screwed by poverty and inequality, do we really need them resorting to scams too? 
. But at the same time, it's like they're stuck in this never-ending cycle of poverty and desperation 
. It's not just about the scams, it's about the lack of opportunities and hope for these people 
like, his wife is expecting him to splurge on gifts and his MIL can't even get money from him? and now he's worried about getting caught again so he just buys votes lol what a scam (no pun intended) anyway, it's crazy how ppl will do whatever it takes for their families but at least jitu's being realistic about the risks...or is he just setting himself up for another fall 
I feel so bad for Jitu, his story is like a wake-up call for all of us... how did things come to this? 
. I think we need to take a step back and ask ourselves if this is really the kind of world we want to live in... where people feel forced into doing things they don't want to do just to survive? 
and it's not just him, these scammers are like a plague 
affecting so many lives in rural India 
but at the same time you feel bad for him, his family needs money 
and he's stuck between being a scammer or going hungry 
what's the solution tho? 
.