Pakistan Connection Revealed in Massive Cambodia Job Scam
Central investigative agencies have uncovered a direct Pakistani link in the Cambodia job scam that trapped thousands of Indian citizens. The scam involved fake employment offers that led to human trafficking and forced cybercrime activities.
Thousands of Indians Targeted
The operation came to light in 2024 when authorities discovered more than 5,000 Indians were potentially trapped in Cambodia. These individuals had responded to what appeared to be legitimate job opportunities only to find themselves in dangerous situations abroad.
Many victims reported being recruited by Pakistani agents who promised high-paying positions in casinos and call centers. Instead of legitimate employment, they faced forced labor, physical abuse, and even threats of organ trafficking upon arrival in Cambodia.
Digital Footprints Point to Pakistan
Forensic examination of digital evidence provided crucial breakthroughs in the investigation. Agency sources revealed that IP logs from recruitment chats and calls consistently traced back to servers and handlers based in Pakistan.
"After returning from these scam compounds, a number of victims informed officials of central agencies that they were recruited by Pakistani agents," said an investigative source familiar with the case.
The coordinated network specifically targeted vulnerable job-seekers from Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, and metropolitan areas like Mumbai.
Central Agencies Take Action
Following the digital trail, central agencies including the CBI and NIA have registered all identified Pakistani IP addresses in their 'suspect registry.' This registry was developed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) based on data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The registry currently contains information on 1.4 million cyber criminals linked to various financial frauds and cyber crimes. This database has been shared with all banks across India to help prevent further fraudulent activities.
Wider Implications and Economic Impact
The Cambodia job scam represents just one facet of a larger cybercrime problem affecting Indian citizens. According to fresh I4C data, Indians have lost over Rs 52,976 crore to various fraud and cheating cases over the past six years.
An official familiar with cybercrime patterns noted that "the Indian economy faces a loss of over Rs 1,000 crore every month to such crimes."
Cyber scams targeting Indians are primarily operated by Chinese networks from high-security compounds in Southeast Asia. These operations employ victims of human trafficking, including thousands of Indians estimated to be working in scam compounds across the region.
Due to international pressure, particularly from the United States, some of these operations have begun shifting their bases to locations like Dubai.
Registry Proves Effective Tool
The suspect registry has already demonstrated significant effectiveness in combating cyber fraud. Available data shows impressive results from its implementation.
- 5,54,865 accounts receiving fraudulent money have been frozen
- 15,10,800 unique fraudulent accounts have been identified
- Approximately Rs 7,980 crore has been saved
- Around 20 lakh fraudulent transactions have been rejected
High-Level Discussions and Concerns
The Cambodia job scam and its Pakistani connections were discussed at the two-day "Anti-Terrorism Conference-2025" held in December. Investigative sources emphasized that this represents more than just typical cyber fraud.
"This is not just a cyber-fraud racket — it's a targeted operation exploiting our youth," a source stated, highlighting the organized nature of the criminal network.
While some victims have been successfully rescued and returned to India, authorities continue their investigation into the full scope of the operation. The widening probe aims to dismantle the entire network responsible for preying on vulnerable Indian job-seekers.
