New Delhi: The Indian government is grappling with a disturbing trend of its citizens being ensnared in Cambodia, allegedly coerced into committing cyber fraud worth hundreds of crores back home.
Over 5,000 Indians are reported to be trapped in this scheme, where they are reportedly compelled to participate in fraudulent activities, The Indian Express reported.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) convened a crucial meeting earlier this month, involving officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and security experts.
The aim was to devise a strategy to rescue these individuals stranded in Cambodia, who are believed to have caused losses of at least Rs 500 crore to victims in India over the past six months, The Indian Express reported quoting a source.
Investigations by Central agencies have shed light on the modus operandi of the racket. Individuals, primarily from southern India, are lured under the guise of data entry jobs and subsequently coerced into carrying out cyber fraud. Methods include impersonating law enforcement officials and extorting money from unsuspecting victims.
Recently, three individuals from Bengaluru were successfully repatriated from Cambodia after being trapped in this web of deceit. Their ordeal came to light following a crackdown by Rourkela Police in Odisha, which led to the arrest of eight individuals allegedly involved in facilitating the movement of people to Cambodia.
One of the rescued individuals, identified as Stephen, shared his harrowing experience, revealing how he was promised a legitimate job but was coerced into fraudulent activities upon reaching Cambodia. Victims like Stephen were subjected to grueling conditions, including physical abuse and coercive work hours, to ensure compliance.
Authorities are actively pursuing leads to dismantle the criminal network operating from Cambodia forcing Indians to commit cyber fraud. Rourkela Police have uncovered the inner workings of these fraudulent enterprises, which involve various scams such as cryptocurrency trading and investment-related cyber fraud. Efforts are underway to identify and repatriate more victims, with plans to collaborate with Interpol to apprehend key perpetrators orchestrating the scam.
The situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and international cooperation to combat transnational cybercrime networks and ensure the safety of Indian citizens abroad.
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