Saturday, March 29, 2025
Phnom Penh/New Delhi, July 24, 2025 — In a major international crackdown triggered by India’s diplomatic appeal, Cambodian authorities have arrested over 3,075 individuals involved in transnational online fraud rings within just 15 days. The operation targeted global scam syndicates that have defrauded lakhs of Indian citizens through elaborate cyber schemes.
Responding to multiple requests from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the Cambodian government initiated raids at 138 locations across the country. The crackdown revealed an expansive network of cybercriminals operating with impunity from Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Among the 3,075 arrested, 105 are Indian nationals, while others belong to China (1,028), Vietnam (693), Indonesia (366), Bangladesh (101), Thailand (82), Korea (57), Pakistan (81), Nepal (13), Malaysia (4) and a few from Nigeria, Myanmar, Russia, and Uganda. The arrests include 606 women, and officials also seized fake police uniforms from China and India, which were reportedly used to intimidate victims or impersonate law enforcement.
Authorities recovered a significant cache of computers, laptops, mobile phones, weapons, and narcotics during the raids. Investigations are still underway, and more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.
These international fraud networks lured young Indians with fake overseas job offers, only to force them into online scams once they reached countries like Cambodia or Myanmar. The victims were coerced to work in call centers or digital scam operations targeting Indians back home through phishing, impersonation, and extortion.
The Indian Embassy has repeatedly warned citizens against falling for such fraudulent employment offers, especially in countries like Cambodia and Myanmar. Advisory notices have been issued urging job seekers to verify credentials and avoid unknown agents or dubious recruiters.
Officials involved in the joint task force emphasized the need for international cooperation to fight digital crime. “This is just the beginning. We are working with multiple countries to rescue trafficked individuals and dismantle these fraudulent ecosystems,” one senior Indian official said.
