India is grappling with a surge in cross-border cyber fraud, with scam networks in Southeast Asia draining nearly ₹1,000 crore each month from Indian citizens. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, losses crossed ₹7,000 crore in the first five months of 2025.
The scams, largely traced to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, are reportedly run by Chinese-backed crime syndicates operating out of high-tech compounds.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has flagged stock trading scams, fake arrest threats, and task-based frauds as the primary modes of deception.
Victims are manipulated into sharing personal data or making payments.
Losses reported include ₹1,192 crore in January and ₹999 crore in May.
Disturbingly, thousands of Indians have also been trafficked to these scam hubs on the pretext of job offers.
Agents from states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi have been instrumental in this trafficking, using transit points such as Dubai, Vietnam, and China.
In response, India has launched diplomatic and intelligence operations.
Cambodia has agreed to act on 45 identified scam centers.
Meanwhile, the CBI is cracking down on fraudulent SIM issuance.
India is now prioritizing stricter KYC norms, global cooperation, and cyber awareness to counter this growing threat.
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