At least 5,000 Indian nationals are reportedly being held against their will in Cambodia and coerced into perpetrating online scams targeting individuals in India, with the total proceeds estimated at a staggering ₹500 crore over the past six months. Responding to these concerning developments, the governments of both countries have initiated collaborative efforts to address the issue.
Acknowledging the situation, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, “We have seen the media reports on Indian nationals stuck in Cambodia. Our Embassy in Cambodia has been promptly responding to complaints from Indian nationals who were lured with employment opportunities to that country but were forced to undertake illegal cyber work.” As a result, approximately 250 individuals have been “rescued and repatriated” thus far.
Reports indicate that those trapped in Cambodia were coerced into engaging in fraudulent activities, including posing as law enforcement officials to extort money from unsuspecting victims in India. The scheme came to light late last year when a senior central government employee reported being defrauded of over ₹67 lakh. Subsequently, the Rourkela Police in Odisha uncovered a cybercrime syndicate on December 30, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals allegedly involved in facilitating the movement of people to Cambodia.
Stephen, one of the individuals rescued from Cambodia, revealed the modus operandi of the operation. Initially offered a data entry job in Cambodia by an agent in Mangaluru, Stephen and his companions were misled into believing they were traveling on tourist visas. Upon arrival, they were interviewed and assigned tasks involving fraudulent activities on social media platforms.
Forced to adopt false identities and operate fake social media profiles, the recruits faced daily quotas and endured punishment for failing to meet them. They were subjected to grueling conditions, including food deprivation and sleep deprivation, if targets were not achieved.
The fraudulent activities orchestrated by the syndicate involved various schemes, including investment scams and cryptocurrency trading deceptions. The perpetrators would pose as women on dating apps to lure targets into fraudulent investment schemes, resulting in substantial financial losses for many victims in India.
Efforts by law enforcement agencies have yielded crucial information regarding the fraudulent operations, including the identification of key operatives and their modus operandi. Plans are underway to apprehend the masterminds behind the scam with the assistance of Interpol, aiming to dismantle the criminal network responsible for exploiting vulnerable individuals and perpetrating financial crimes
