Easy money at a young age and the craze for an expensive lifestyle are driving youths working in BPO firms to criminal ways. The recent incident, in which youths working at a BPO centre were accused of passing on confidential data to their employers rivals, was waiting to happen.

A 23-year-old youth, who calls himself John Smith and works for a BPO office, owns a swift car and several expensive electronic gadgets. He wears only branded clothes. His lavish lifestyle would be the envy of even those people who had good jobs.

When DNA asked John why youths working for BPO and KPO firms were tempted to commit data theft, he agreed to talk but only on the condition of anonymity. "I want to live a life of luxury," he said.

He further said that during his two years with the BPO firm he worked for, he had helped his friends many times "illegally" by sharing with them confidential information. "I did it just for friendship and not for money," he said. "But I also knew that sharing the information would not damage the image of my firm or its income."

John said that because he helped his friends in this illegal manner, they treated him with special warmth and respect. "I am always invited to their parties," he said. "There are many people in senior positions at BPO firms, who share confidential information with outsiders. They dont think he is doing something illegal." In the incident of data theft that occurred in the city last week, FGMB-PM Services Ltd, a city-based BPO firm, lodged an FIR against three of its employees. The company accused them of stealing confidential data. One of the three has now opened his own call centre.

Social psychologists say youths working for BPO firms tend to become socio-paths as they dont care for other peoples opinions. Dr Prashant Bhimani, a city-based consulting psychologist, said, "Many youths who work for BPO centres come to us for help in calming their minds. One reason for this is that they have achieved too much, too soon."

Bhimani said that the right to vote doesnt make a person an adult. "You must have the ability to handle the adult world," he said. "Low qualifications, odd working hours, work pressure, and quick money creates an unhealthy high which does not last long."Dr Hemang Desai, consultant psychiatrist, said BPO firms should help their employees by providing them free counselling.