Archive · 20 Nov 2025
India's Scamlands: A Network of Fraud and Inequality
In India, scams are big business, with people from marginalised communities often turning to fraud due to inequality and lack of opportunities.
These scams are highly organised and can happen anywhere, thanks to technology.
Many scammers don't see their actions as criminal because everyone around them is involved.
This book explores the world of scams and the people behind them.
India's scam industry is vast and thriving, with operations anchored in caste and community networks
Scammers target both domestic and international victims, with techniques evolving rapidly
Inequality and lack of opportunities drive many to scam, with some seeing it as a way to level the field
Scams are a borderless enterprise, facilitated by digital technology and globalisation
Scam money often funds local elections and politics, further entrenching the system
- Who
- Scammers from marginalised communities in India and their victims, both domestic and international
- What
- Conducting various types of scams, from digital arrests to e-commerce and credit card fraud
- When
- Scams have been happening for years but have increased with digitalisation and globalisation
- Where
- Across India and beyond, with operations in Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, and other regions
- Why
- Driven by inequality, lack of opportunities, and a desire to level the field or seek revenge
Scammers
Victims and Society
Scammers' Perspective
Scammers
Scamming is a way to survive and get ahead in an unequal society
Victims and Society
Scamming is illegal and harms victims, often exploiting their vulnerabilities
Role of Technology
Scammers
Technology enables scams and makes them harder to detect
Victims and Society
Technology can also help prevent and combat scams
- Primary Language for Scams
- English, due to its global use
- Average Amount Scammed per Victim
- Varies, but can be as low as Rs 400
- Estimated Number of Scammers in India
- Unknown, but believed to be in the millions
- Role of Scam Money in Politics
- Significant, funding local and national elections