Bengaluru | November 11, 2025: In a dramatic early morning operation, the Uttara Kannada Cyber Crime Police arrested Shah Alam (23), a Bihar native who once worked as a cyber slave for a Chinese-run fraud syndicate in Cambodia and later turned into a cyber fraudster himself. He was detained at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after police traced him using just one clue — his name.
The team scanned passenger manifests of flights arriving in Bengaluru from across the country and finally identified an “Alam” arriving from Delhi. Their hunch proved correct, and Alam confessed to the crime during interrogation.
The Online Romance Trap
The victim, a 38-year-old businessman from Uttara Kannada, had met a woman on a matrimonial website earlier this year. Believing he had found a genuine match, he began chatting regularly and soon developed trust.
Between June and July 2025, the accused convinced him to gift an iPhone, a MacBook, and ₹36 lakh purportedly for “trading investments.” Investigations later revealed that the fraud had begun in May, when Alam was still in Cambodia, working under duress for a Chinese cybercrime ring.
Life as a Cyber Slave in Cambodia
According to the police, Alam was lured by an agent in April and sent to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the promise of a lucrative job. On arrival, his passport was seized, and he was forced to work in an online scam operation run by a Chinese syndicate. Deputy Superintendent of Police B. Ashwini, who led the investigation, said:
“A female member of the gang chatted with the businessman, gained his confidence, and persuaded him to invest in a fake trading platform. Initially, the victim was shown a profit of ₹6 lakh to deepen trust — all under Alam’s supervision.”
Over time, Alam became instrumental in executing several such scams, helping the syndicate extort lakhs of rupees from multiple victims. However, when he was denied a fair share of the profits, he planned his escape. Taking advantage of a rare break, Alam fled to the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh, where he narrated his ordeal. The embassy facilitated his safe return to India.
The Second Act: Fraud in India
Back in India, Alam resumed his deceitful activities. Using a new phone number, he contacted the Uttara Kannada businessman again, posing as the same woman and claiming she had “changed her phone.” Gradually, he began demanding expensive “gifts.”
At one point, Alam even traveled to Hyderabad, impersonating the woman’s brother, and personally collected the items. When the businessman saw no returns after three months, he grew suspicious and approached the police. The investigative team, led by DSP Ashwini, continued the chats to keep Alam engaged and set a trap.
Arrest at Bengaluru Airport
In early November, the victim offered another “gift” and invited Alam to Bengaluru. The accused claimed to be flying from Hyderabad, but no such booking existed. After checking hundreds of flights, the police found one “Alam” arriving from Delhi. He was detained on arrival at KIA, where he confessed to the fraud.
Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N. confirmed that Alam has been remanded to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway.
