Tamil Nadu Police have arrested a man from Vellore district in connection with an alleged cyber slavery and human trafficking network that reportedly sent Indian youths to cyber scam compounds operating in Cambodia. Investigators alleged that the accused lured job seekers with promises of high-paying overseas employment before they were forced into cyber fraud operations abroad.
The arrest was made by the State Cyber Crime Investigation Centre following a complaint from a victim who managed to escape from Cambodia and return to India with assistance from the Indian Embassy. Authorities said the case has exposed a wider trafficking network linked to organised cyber scam compounds in Southeast Asia.
Victims Allegedly Lured With Fake Overseas Job Offers
According to investigators, the accused allegedly targeted educated Indian youths by offering lucrative jobs in Cambodia with attractive salaries and overseas placement assurances. Police said victims were asked to pay money for travel arrangements, visa processing, and documentation before being transported abroad.
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After reaching Cambodia, the victims were allegedly handed over to operators running cyber scam compounds controlled by foreign nationals. Investigators stated that several victims were confined inside secured compounds and coerced into participating in online financial fraud and cyber scam activities.
Authorities believe the trafficking operation had been functioning for nearly three years and may have trafficked more than 100 Indian nationals to Cambodia through illegal recruitment channels.
Cyber Scam Compounds Operated Across Southeast Asia
Investigators alleged that the accused maintained links with foreign operators managing cyber scam centres in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Police also claimed the accused operated restaurants under the name “Jallikattu” inside or near scam compounds and allegedly supplied food to trafficked victims.
According to police, the network involved travel agents, immigration facilitators, taxi operators, and foreign associates who coordinated movement of victims across international borders. Officials suspect the accused received commissions for each successful recruitment and transfer.
Law enforcement agencies globally have increasingly identified Southeast Asian scam compounds as hubs for cyber-enabled financial fraud, including investment scams, impersonation fraud, and digital arrest scams targeting victims worldwide.
Police Seize Digital Evidence During Arrest
The accused was arrested from Madurai and later produced before a magistrate court before being remanded to judicial custody. During the operation, police seized mobile phones, SIM cards, and passport-related documents for forensic examination.
Investigators are now tracing financial transactions, communication records, and possible international links connected to the alleged trafficking and cyber fraud operation. Authorities are also attempting to identify additional victims and recruiters associated with the network.
Growing Focus on Cyber Slavery Networks
The case highlights growing concerns over “cyber slavery” operations in Southeast Asia, where victims are allegedly trafficked through fake job offers and later forced to work in online scam centres under coercive conditions. International agencies and human rights groups have repeatedly warned about organised syndicates operating such compounds across Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
Tamil Nadu Police have advised job seekers to verify overseas employment offers only through authorised recruitment channels and government-approved agencies before making payments or travelling abroad.
