Fresh data from the Government of India shows a growing scale of cybercrime related trafficking across Southeast Asia, with more than 6,700 Indians rescued from scam compounds in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Many of these individuals were misled with fake overseas job offers and later forced into online fraud operations.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh shared the update in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. He noted that the exploitation of Indian nationals in foreign scam centres continues to be a serious concern for the government.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that criminal syndicates have been using social media platforms and fake recruitment agencies to offer high salary opportunities abroad. Once the victims reached these countries, they were allegedly confined, threatened and forced to run online investment scams, crypto frauds, romance scams and phishing schemes. Singh said many of the trafficked individuals had travelled through unauthorised agents or illegal routes, which made it more difficult for authorities to track or rescue them. He added that while thousands have been brought back, more Indians may still be trapped inside such compounds.
The government affirmed that the safety of Indian citizens abroad remains a top priority. Indian embassies in Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Yangon are working closely with local police, immigration departments, labour authorities and border enforcement agencies to identify victims, assist in rescue operations and coordinate their return. Singh said the issue has also been raised with the governments of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar at senior political levels to push for strict action against these scam centres. Officials highlighted that the successful rescue efforts were supported by strong diplomatic engagement and coordination with enforcement agencies in these countries.
Replying to another query, the minister shared that between 1 January 2024 and 30 November 2025, the government received 11,195 complaints through the Madad grievance portal and 4,932 complaints through CPGRAMS. The total came to 16,127 complaints from Indians abroad, covering fraud, labour disputes, missing persons and passport related issues. Singh said Indian missions have been instructed to prioritise these cases and work with local authorities for timely resolution.
Officials warned that cybercrime hubs in Southeast Asia have grown rapidly since 2021 and continue to target vulnerable jobseekers from South Asia through misleading advertisements. The government has asked jobseekers to verify all overseas opportunities and avoid unauthorised intermediaries.
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