Archive · 20 Jul 2025
Thousands of Indians Rescued from Southeast Asia Scam Centers
Some people from India were tricked into going to countries in Southeast Asia with fake job offers.
Instead, they were forced to do cybercrimes like scamming people online.
From 2022 to May 2025, over 2,000 people were rescued, and many more are still stuck there.
Many others went to these countries on short-term visas and haven't come back.
The government is working to bring these people home and stop these scams, which cost India a lot of money every month.
2,471 Indians were rescued from scam compounds in Southeast Asia between 2022 and May 2025.
Over 20,000 Indians are suspected to be working in these scam compounds targeting people for cybercrimes.
The Indian government reports 22,145 Indians who travelled on visitor visas to Southeast Asia have not returned.
Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Myanmar were key locations for the repatriation of rescued individuals.
Investigations reveal three primary types of cybercrime scams originating from these compounds.
- Who
- Indian citizens and government officials
- What
- Indians were rescued from scam compounds where they were forced to commit cybercrimes.
- When
- Between 2022 and May 2025
- Where
- Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Lao PDR)
- Why
- Indians were lured with fake job offers and then forced into cybercrime.
Victims of Job Scams
Scammers
Role in Cybercrime
Victims of Job Scams
They are victims of fraud and coercion, being forced into criminal activities.
Scammers
They are knowingly engaging in cybercrimes.
- Rescued Indians
- 2,471
- Unreturned Travelers
- 22,145
- Main Scam Types
- Stock trading/investment, digital arrest, and task/investment based
- Estimated Monthly Loss
- Rs 1,000 crore
- FIRs Registered
- 178
- People Arrested
- 224