India Rescues 250 Citizens Forced into Online Scams in Cambodia
In a bold move, the Indian government has successfully rescued 250 of its citizens in Cambodia who were coerced into running online scams.
Initially promised legitimate jobs, these individuals were instead “forced to undertake illegal cyber work”, as stated by India’s foreign ministry.
Recent reports have shed light on the plight of over 5,000 Indians stranded in Cambodia, compelled to operate cyber-fraud schemes.
The grim reality of human trafficking in South East Asia has ensnared hundreds of thousands of individuals globally. Victims, predominantly young and tech-savvy, are enticed with job offers only to be ensnared into illicit online activities such as money laundering, crypto fraud, and love scams.
According to a UN report from August 2023, at least 120,000 individuals in Myanmar and another 100,000 in Cambodia were victimized into running cyber-fraud operations.
This recent rescue mission is part of a larger effort to combat such exploitation in the region. Earlier this year, police intervened to liberate numerous individuals from a scam center in the Philippines, where they were manipulated into engaging in fraudulent romantic relationships online under false identities. Similarly, China repatriated hundreds of its citizens from scam centers in Myanmar.
Over the weekend, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, affirmed that the country is collaborating closely with Cambodian authorities to dismantle the networks responsible for these fraudulent schemes.
While 75 people have been rescued in the past three months, the exact timeline for the remaining individuals remains unclear.
The BBC has reached out to the Cambodian embassy in India for their response to these developments.
Recent reports from the Indian Express newspaper revealed that India’s embassy in Phnom Penh received 130 complaints from Indians held against their will in Cambodia. These individuals were among the thousands coerced into scamming people in India or extorting money by impersonating law enforcement officials.
Victims in India reportedly suffered losses totaling at least 5 billion rupees ($59 million; £47 million) over the past six months due to these fraudulent activities.
Another account from an official at India’s embassy in Cambodia highlighted receiving an average of four to five complaints daily from individuals trapped in Cambodia after being promised job opportunities.
One of the rescued individuals, known only as Stephen, shared his harrowing experience of being recruited by an agent from Mangaluru, India, and offered a data entry job in Cambodia. However, upon arrival, he was instructed to create fake social media accounts with women’s photos and use them for illicit purposes. — BBC
