In the latest such tranche, 14 Indians trapped in ‘cyber slavery’ have been rescued in Cambodia, according to a report.
In recent months, hundreds of Indians have been rescued in Cambodia who were lured to the country with the prospects of genuine jobs but were pushed into cyber fraud schemes against their will. Thousands of Indians are understood to be trapped there.
Now, NDTV has reported that 14 Indians, most of whom are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have been rescued by local police and are currently staying at lodging arranged by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Cambodia.
The report said that they have appealed to the Indian government to arrange their return from Cambodia.
How such fraud works?
Indian nationals are promised genuine jobs in Cambodia, but, once they arrived in the country, their passports are confiscated and they are forced to work for cyber criminal networks, according to reports.
People in India have also been part of the scheme. Last year, the Odisha Police arrested eight people for being part of the scheme.
The Indian Express has reported that the government’s estimate says that around 5,000 Indians are similarly trapped in Cambodia.
The report further said that the scams that these trapped people are forced to carry out have duped Indians to the tune of Rs 500 crore.
Earlier this year, the government said that around 250 Indians have been rescued and repatriated to India form Cambodia, according to NDTV.
Southeast Asia has emerged as a hub of such fraudulent schemes. The BBC News has reported that the United Nations (UN) has assessed that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and around 100,000 in Cambodia have been forced into such cyber slavery.
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14 Indians rescued from ‘cyber slavery’ in Cambodia appeal govt for their return, says report
