In the past four to five months, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has successfully repatriated at least 360 Indian citizens who were scammed into working as "cyber slaves" in Cambodia. I4C CEO Rajesh Kumar announced this on Wednesday, adding that another 60 Indians currently stranded in the Southeast Asian nation are expected to return in the coming weeks.

In response to the rising incidents of cybercrime targeting India from Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, the Union government constituted a high-level inter-ministerial committee on May 16.

Chaired by the special secretary (Internal Security) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the committee includes officials from the ministries of external affairs, finance, electronics and information technology, the department of telecommunications, CBI, NIA, CBIC, and the department of post. The committee has convened twice so far, according to I4C CEO Rajesh Kumar.

The committee has been established to take "very focused and concerted action on ending this menace originating from Southeast Asia," Kumar added.

These victims were lured to Cambodia with attractive job offers, but upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced to scam people in India using online platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google Ads, and fake apps, Kumar stated.

‘Cyber slaves’ are foreign nationals deceived into relocating for "better job opportunities" but are forced to work as online scammers in locked compounds, with Cambodia being a hotspot. Many Indians reach Cambodia via Thailand, said Kumar. Victims often face demands to "buy back their independence" from crime kingpins.

The Indian embassy in Cambodia has helped repatriate 360 victims. On May 20, 150 victims, mainly from Andhra Pradesh, protested at a scam compound in Sihanouk City. Sixty will return to India soon, while the other 90 sought only to recover their passports, Kumar added.

“The Indian government is in touch with Cambodian authorities, and the 60 people mentioned will return to India soon,” said Kumar.

On May 21, the Indian embassy in Phnom Penh warned nationals about fake job ads luring them into online financial scams and illegal activities.

Kumar added that Section 111 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, replacing the Indian Penal Code, will include cyber crimes within organised crime, aiding in prosecuting large-scale scam perpetrators.

Between January and April 2024, 7,40,957 complaints were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, with 85% related to online financial fraud. About 46% of these originate from Southeast Asia.

I4C focuses on four scam categories from Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia: investment scams (62,687 complaints involving ₹222.58 crores), trading scams (20,043 complaints involving ₹1,420.48 crores), digital arrest (4,599 complaints involving ₹120.3 crores), and romance and dating scams (1,725 complaints involving ₹13.23 crores).

Common scams in 2024 include fake trading, investment, loan, dating, and gaming apps with algorithmic manipulation. To counter 'digital arrests,' the MHA issued an alert on May 14. I4C, with Microsoft, blocked over 1,000 Skype IDs. Perpetrators feigning parcel interceptions or criminal involvement place victims under 'digital arrest,' demanding visual availability on Skype until demands are met. These scams exploit social engineering and breach of personal data.

Kumar warns against oversharing on social media and advises against displaying phone numbers or relationships. He notes that cybercriminals often pose as law enforcement using official logos. I4C collaborates with Microsoft to track Skype IDs misusing logos. Kumar clarifies that digital arrest scammers have not yet used AI-generated voices or faces, focusing on human presence.

Image source: Hindustan Times