A significant crisis has emerged with over 5,000 Indian nationals reportedly trapped in Cambodia, subjected to coercion and forced into cyber fraud activities targeting individuals in India, resulting in substantial financial losses estimated at Rs. 500 crore over the past six months.
The Indian government has initiated an operation to rescue its citizens stranded in Cambodia, and it is currently in contact with the Cambodian authorities. About 250 people have already been rescued.
Following these alarming developments, the Ministry of Home Affairs convened a crucial meeting involving officials from multiple ministries and security experts, reported The Indian Express.
The primary agenda of the meeting was to formulate a comprehensive strategy to rescue and repatriate the Indian citizens stranded in Cambodia.
The Indian central agencies have uncovered a sophisticated network of fraud, primarily targeting individuals from southern India. These individuals were lured to Cambodia under false pretences, such as promising job opportunities in data entry.
However, upon arrival, they were corrected into engaging in cyber fraud schemes, including posing as law enforcement officials and conducting fraudulent activities online.
The origins of this crisis are traced back to a significant operation by the Rourkela Police in Odisha. This operation resulted in the arrest of eight individuals involved in facilitating the movement of people to Cambodia for illicit purposes. The case gained prominence following a complaint by a senior government official who reported losses amounting to Rs. 70 lakh due to these fraudulent activities.
Survivors of the ordeal detailed how they were lured into these scams after being promised a legitimate job. The modus operandi involved creating fake social media profiles to lure unsuspecting victims, with strict targets imposed and severe consequences for non-compliance.
“We are also working with Cambodian authorities and with agencies in India to crack down on those responsible for these fraudulent schemes,” said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
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