Thousands of Indian citizens are being fraudulently lured with fake high-paying job offers to become victims of cyber slavery and #CryptocurrencyScams in Southeast Asia. According to local media, thousands of Indians are being forced to participate in online scams, including cryptocurrency scams, phishing attacks, and other fraudulent activities primarily targeting Indian citizens.
Cyber Crimes and Cryptocurrency Fraud
In some cases, victims are forced to impersonate law enforcement officials to fraudulently extort money from unsuspecting individuals. Approximately 45% of #cybercrimes targeting Indians originate from Southeast Asia.
Rescue Operations and Government Interventions
Victims, mostly young Indians, are attracted by fake job offers for positions in IT and data entry systems. Upon arriving in countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, their passports are confiscated, and they are locked in guarded complexes where they must work under inhumane conditions. Between October 2023 and March 2024, Indians lost at least 500 million crowns in these scams.
Indian Government Steps In
The Indian government is collaborating with international organizations and local authorities in Southeast Asia to help repatriate imprisoned citizens and dismantle cyber slavery networks. In March, several young Indians were rescued from fraudulent centers in Laos. The Indian embassy has warned against illegal job offers that use "Visa on Arrival" and advised people to carefully verify recruitment agencies.
Unreturned Indians and International Response
From January 2022 to May 2024, approximately 30,000 Indians traveled to Southeast Asia but have yet to return. The Indian government has formed a panel tasked with combating cyber fraud and ensuring the return of these citizens.
In Addition to Cryptocurrency Scams
Investigations have revealed that cryptocurrency scams are often linked to global criminal networks involved in human trafficking. In 2023, #Bloomberg journalists uncovered a massive human trafficking operation in Cambodia connected to Chinese criminal organizations. Victims were subjected to inhumane conditions and brutal treatment.
International Sanctions
The seriousness of these cases has also attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which recently imposed sanctions on a Cambodian senator connected to these scams. The sanctions also extend to his conglomerate and other entities involved in the exploitation of workers in relation to cryptocurrency scams.

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