The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a man accused of recruiting Indian youths and sending them to cyber scam centres in Cambodia, where they were allegedly forced to participate in online fraud operations.
The accused, identified as Krishna Kumar Lakhwani, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly part of an international cybercrime network that lured job seekers with fake employment opportunities abroad.
Fake overseas jobs used to recruit victims
According to investigators, Lakhwani recruited Indian youths by promising them data entry and IT jobs in Cambodia.
He allegedly collected $300–$400 from each candidate and arranged their travel through Delhi before sending them to Cambodia.
However, once the recruits reached Cambodia, many were reportedly taken to large scam compounds where their passports were confiscated and they were forced to carry out cyber fraud activities targeting victims online.
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Victims forced into cybercrime operations
Authorities say these scam centres operate as organised fraud hubs where workers are compelled to run schemes such as digital arrest scams, identity theft, and other online fraud operations targeting people in different countries.
In such scams, victims are often contacted by fraudsters impersonating law-enforcement or government officials and pressured into transferring money under threats of legal action.
Arrest made after surveillance
CBI officials reportedly arrested Lakhwani after placing him under surveillance and intercepting him when he returned to India.
During the investigation, officers recovered interview videos and passport photographs of several candidates from his mobile phone, which are believed to be linked to multiple victims recruited for the scam network.
Part of a larger transnational network
Investigators believe Lakhwani was working as a recruiter for a larger international syndicate operating cyber scam centres in Southeast Asia.
Authorities have said the arrest is a significant step in dismantling human-trafficking-linked cyber fraud networks that lure people abroad with fake job offers and force them into online scam operations.
The accused has been sent to judicial custody, while the CBI continues to investigate other members of the network and the trafficking routes used to send recruits overseas.
Officials have also urged job seekers to verify overseas employment opportunities carefully and avoid paying agents promising high-paying foreign jobs without proper documentation.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
