6,700 Indians Rescued from Cybercrime Scam Centres in Southeast Asia

New Delhi | December 12, 2025:

The Government of India has confirmed that more than 6,700 Indian nationals trapped inside cybercrime scam centres across Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have been rescued so far. The disclosure was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Parliament, highlighting the growing scale of transnational cybercrime and human trafficking networks operating in Southeast Asia.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said that many of the victims were lured abroad with fake job offers promising high salaries and legitimate employment. Upon arrival, they were allegedly confined in heavily guarded compounds and forced to carry out online scams, including investment frauds, cryptocurrency cons, romance scams and phishing operations targeting victims across multiple countries.

The minister noted that criminal syndicates exploited social media platforms and unregistered recruitment agents to traffic Indian jobseekers, often routing them through illegal or unauthorised travel channels. This, he said, made it difficult for authorities to trace victims once they were taken across borders. While thousands have been rescued, officials believe several Indians may still be trapped in similar scam centres.

The MEA reiterated that the safety and welfare of Indians abroad remains a top diplomatic priority. Indian missions in Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Yangon are coordinating closely with local law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities and labour departments to identify victims, conduct rescue operations and arrange safe repatriation.

According to data shared in Parliament, Indian embassies have rescued 2,265 nationals from Cambodia, 2,290 from Laos and 2,165 from Myanmar, taking the total number of rescues to 6,720. Officials said sustained diplomatic engagement and cooperation with host governments played a key role in dismantling several scam compounds and freeing captive workers.

Responding to another question, Singh revealed that between January 1, 2024 and November 30, 2025, the government received 16,127 complaints from Indians abroad. Of these, 11,195 were filed through the MEA’s Madad portal and 4,932 through CPGRAMS. The complaints covered issues ranging from cyber fraud and labour exploitation to missing persons and passport-related disputes.

Officials warned that cybercrime hubs in Southeast Asia have expanded rapidly since 2021, increasingly targeting young Indians seeking overseas employment. Many victims are reportedly subjected to physical intimidation, restricted movement and financial coercion, forcing them to participate in organised online fraud operations.

Authorities said dismantling such international scam ecosystems requires not only law enforcement action but also deep financial scrutiny to trace illicit money flows and shell structures. Such investigations often depend on structured financial examinations and auditing services in india to uncover how proceeds of cybercrime are layered, moved and concealed across borders.

The MEA has repeatedly advised Indian citizens to verify overseas job offers through official channels and avoid unauthorised agents. Officials said public awareness remains critical to preventing further trafficking into cybercrime networks that thrive on deception and economic desperation.