Lok Sabha Question No. 1259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Trafficking of Indians for Cyber Fraud in the Overseas
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1259

## ANSWERED ON- 06/02/2026

## TRAFFICKING OF INDIANS FOR CYBER FRAUD IN THE OVERSEAS

1259.   SHRI K C VENUGOPAL

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of Indian citizens trafficked abroad and forced into cyber fraud operations;
- (b) whether bilateral agreements exist to dismantle scam centres operating overseas, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the role of MEA in securing repatriation of victims;

(d)   whether   crypto-based   laundering   is   being   tracked   effectively across borders, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the deterrent measures that exist against recruiters in India?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to e)  Government has been made aware of instances of dubious firms involved in fake recruitment job offers having lured Indian nationals mostly through social media channels to South-East Asian countries including Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR and made them to carry out cyber crime and other fraudulent activities from scam centres operating in these countries. The exact number of Indian nationals   stranded  in   these   countries   is   not   known   as   Indian nationals reach these scam centres on their own volition through fraudulent/unscrupulous   recruitment   agents/agencies   and   through illegal channels.   With the concerted efforts of our Embassies in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, the number of Indian nationals rescued in the last four years (till December 2025) is mentioned in the table below:

| S.No.   | Country   |   No. of Indian Nationals rescued |   No. of Indian Nationals rescued |   No. of Indian Nationals rescued | No. of Indian Nationals rescued   |
|---------|-----------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|         |           |                              2022 |                              2023 |                              2024 | 2025                              |
| 1       | Cambodia  |                                44 |                               207 |                               982 | 1,300                             |
| 2       | Lao PDR   |                                74 |                               244 |                               558 | 1,421                             |
| 3       | Myanmar   |                               338 |                                89 |                               147 | 1,594                             |

Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and wellbeing of Indian nationals abroad. Government of India has raised this

issue at political level with the host Government from time to time. Missions/Posts take up the issue of rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals actively with the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other concerned   Government   agencies   of   the   host   country   like Immigration, Labour Department, Home Affairs, Defence and Border Affairs and law enforcement agencies.

Ministry issues advisories and social media posts about the fake job rackets from time to time. Similar communications are also issued by the respective Indian Missions/Posts abroad through their official   websites,   social   media   handles   and   print   media.   Our Missions   in   South-East   Asian   countries   issue   advisories,   upon receiving such information on Indian nationals being lured by fake job rackets in South-East countries, to job seekers, and advise them to verify all antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before accepting any kind of employment offer and not be enticed and entrapped in the fraudulent job offers in these countries.

Ministry, in coordination with the Indian Missions/Posts abroad and offices of Protectors of Emigrants in India, takes quick and decisive action whenever instances of exploitation of job seekers by illegal agents come to notice. A list of 3,505 unregistered recruiting agents (till December 2025) has been notified on e-Migrate portal to

caution prospective emigrants. This information is regularly updated based on the complaints filed by the aggrieved individuals and based on   the   inputs   received   from   our   Missions/Posts   abroad.   The complaint against the illegal agents and the dubious firms luring Indian youth in false recruitment offers through various channels are regularly shared with the respective State Governments and other agencies such as I4C, MHA for suitable action. To spread awareness on cyber crime, the Central Government has taken steps which interalia include, dissemination of relevant information through SMS, I4C social media account, radio campaigns, engaged MyGov for publicity in   multiple   channels,   organizing   cyber   safety   and   security awareness   weeks   in   association   with   States/UTs,   newspaper advertisement   on   digital   arrest   scams,   announcements   in   Delhi Metros on digital arrest, and other modus operandi of cyber crimes.

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