Pakistani link emerges in harrowing Cambodia Job scam that trapped hundreds of Indians

A Pakistani link has emerged in the investigation into the 2024 Cambodia job scam that trafficked hundreds of Indians abroad. Victims told authorities they were recruited by Pakistani agents before being forced into cybercrime operations.

A Pakistani connection has surfaced in the ongoing investigation into the Cambodia-based job scam of 2024, in which hundreds of Indians were trafficked abroad and exploited through fake employment offers, according to sources.

Investigators probing the case said several victims informed authorities that they were recruited by agents based in Pakistan. The scam came to light in 2024 after officials estimated that more than 5,000 Indians had been lured to Cambodia with promises of lucrative jobs, only to be coerced into cybercrime operations under harsh conditions.

Following the exposure of the racket, multiple victims were rescued and repatriated. The Indian Embassy had also issued repeated advisories, warning job-seekers against unauthorised agents offering overseas employment in Cambodia.

According to officials, forensic analysis of recruitment-related calls, chats and digital communications revealed IP logs and other technical evidence linked to handlers operating from Pakistan. Sources said the probe uncovered a coordinated network targeting vulnerable youth from states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Telangana and Kerala.

The issue was discussed at the Anti-Terrorism Conference-2025 held in December, underscoring the seriousness of the operation. “This is not just a cyber-fraud racket—it is a targeted operation exploiting Indian youth,” a source involved in the investigation said.

Central agencies, including the CBI and the NIA, have expanded the scope of the probe. Pakistan-linked IP addresses identified during the investigation have been added to a ‘suspect registry’ maintained by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).

The registry, created using data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, contains details of around 1.4 million individuals involved in cyber fraud and related offences. Officials said it has helped freeze over 5.54 lakh bank accounts, identify more than 15.1 lakh suspicious accounts, and prevent losses of nearly ₹7,980 crore by blocking close to 20 lakh fraudulent transactions.

Officials noted that while many cyber scams targeting Indians are run by Chinese operators from fortified compounds in Southeast Asia, trafficked victims—including Indians—are often forced to work in these operations.

Data compiled by the I4C shows Indians have lost over ₹52,976 crore to fraud and cheating cases over the past six years. Many victims were reportedly lured through social media and messaging platforms with promises of jobs in casinos and call centres, only to face forced labour, physical abuse and threats of organ trafficking.

Disturbing accounts of torture and inhuman treatment emerged after the scam was uncovered in 2024, highlighting the scale and brutality of the operation.