Cyber Slavery Enslaves Thousands of Indians in Southeast Asia
In a disturbing trend, thousands of Indians are falling victim to a sinister crime known as cyber slavery. Lured by the promise of high-paying jobs in Southeast Asia, many young Indians from various states travel to countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. However, once they arrive, they are trapped in exploitative situations where they are forced to work for online scam companies targeting Indians back home.
Cybercriminals coerce these individuals into working long hours under inhumane conditions, forcing them to carry out fraudulent activities. They engage many of these “cyber slaves” in online fraud, including money laundering, cryptocurrency scams, and love scams, while also making them fabricate false social media identities. Shockingly, most of the victims were unaware that the job offers they accepted were part of illegal cybercrime operations.
Indian Government’s Crackdown on Cyber Crime
In response to the growing problem of cyber slavery, the Indian government has launched a series of initiatives to crack down on these exploitative operations. The telecom ministry swiftly disconnected 21.7 million mobile phone connections suspected of links to these cybercrime networks. Additionally, authorities blocked around 226,000 handsets that criminals used for scamming operations to disrupt their communication channels.
The Indian government has also established an inter-ministerial panel to tackle this issue. This panel consists of key departments including the Home Ministry, Immigration Bureau, Financial Intelligence Unit, Reserve Bank of India, Information Technology Ministry, and National Investigation Agency (NIA). Their goal is to address the cross-border nature of this crime and prevent more Indians from falling into the trap of cyber slavery.
As part of these measures, the government has directed telecom operators to block international “spoofed calls” that use Indian mobile numbers. Scammers often use these fraudulent calls, which make up about 35% of incoming international calls, to deceive and defraud people. Additionally, the government has requested telecom companies to provide information on Indian mobile numbers roaming in regions such as the Philippines, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. A staggering 600,000 of these phones were recorded roaming in Southeast Asia between April and June 2024.
Thousands of Indians Missing After Traveling to Southeast Asia
The issue of cyber slavery has become more alarming with government data revealing that nearly 30,000 of the 73,138 Indians who traveled to Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam between January 2022 and May 2024 on visitor visas have not returned to India. These missing individuals are suspected of being trapped in cyber slavery rings.
The Indian government is taking steps to trace these missing persons. Local governments have been asked to conduct thorough background checks and verifications to understand the whereabouts of these individuals. Most of these victims come from states such as Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. The Indian Express reported that nearly 70% of those who disappeared had gone to Thailand from India, raising concerns about the extent of human trafficking and cyber slavery in the region.
Cambodia, in particular, has emerged as a hub for cyber slavery in Southeast Asia. According to earlier reports, criminals have trapped at least 5,000 Indians in Cambodia. They are forcing these individuals to work for cybercrime companies. Initially, these individuals traveled to Cambodia believing they would join legitimate firms. Instead, they found themselves held against their will and coerced into committing various online scams.
Many of the victims’ work involves making fraudulent calls and sending deceptive messages to Indians, often involving scams related to cryptocurrency investments or romantic relationships. In some cases, criminals force the cyber slaves to create fake profiles of women and engage in honey trapping. They deceive victims into making payments or investments. Once the victims deposit the money, the scammers vanish, leaving them defrauded and their accounts blocked.
Southeast Asia is the origin of around 45% of cybercrimes against Indians, according to the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre. Since January 2023 alone, over 100,000 complaints have been lodged with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Rescuing the Victims of Cyber Slavery
The Indian government, along with international organizations and NGOs, has been working tirelessly to rescue Indian citizens trapped in cyber slavery. In May 2024, the government reported that they successfully repatriated 360 Indians. These individuals had been forced to work in cyber scam operations in Cambodia over the previous five months.
Similarly, in August 2024, authorities believed over 1,000 individuals from Tamil Nadu were working as cyber slaves. They were trapped in Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. Cybercriminals lured many of these people with false promises of data entry jobs. They also offered other administrative roles. Upon arrival, the criminals took their passports. This made it nearly impossible for the victims to escape.
In some instances, rescue operations have been successful. In August 2024, authorities freed 47 Indians from a cyber slavery ring in Laos. Criminals had forced them to run dating app scams. Authorities have rescued hundreds of people so far. However, many more remain trapped in these dangerous and exploitative conditions.
Cyber slavery is a growing issue, affecting thousands of Indians and defrauding millions of dollars from victims. The Indian government is taking critical steps to combat this crime, but the problem remains pervasive in Southeast Asia. With coordinated efforts between government bodies, law enforcement agencies, and international partners, the goal is to dismantle these cyber slavery networks and protect vulnerable individuals from falling into this web of exploitation.
