In Kanpur, police have busted an organised international racket that allegedly trafficked unemployed youths to Cambodia under the pretext of overseas job placements and forced them into cyber fraud operations. Two agents, Mo. Amas and Mo. Faisal Waris, have been arrested in connection with the case. The accused allegedly lured victims with promises of e-commerce jobs offering salaries of ₹1.5 lakh per month and collected up to ₹3 lakh as placement and processing charges.
Investigations reveal that victims were transported via Lucknow and Bangkok routes before being taken to Cambodia, where they were kept inside hotel-like buildings converted into illegal call centre setups. These facilities were divided into multiple “studio units” where different cyber fraud modules were operated, including fake social media identity scams, romantic trapping, honey-trap operations, and investment fraud schemes.
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The survivor, Naveed, stated that he was initially promised a legitimate job in a reputed foreign company. However, upon arrival in Cambodia, he was forced into cyber fraud training instead. He further alleged that refusal to comply led to confinement in rooms and restricted access to food. Victims from India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were reportedly held in similar conditions and coerced into participating in scams.
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Police officials said at least six individuals were sent abroad through this network, out of which three have managed to return to India. The entire operation was allegedly being controlled by an absconding mastermind identified as Irfan, who is currently being tracked. Preliminary findings suggest that the agents received commissions of up to ₹65,000 per successfully trafficked individual.
Victims were reportedly assigned daily targets for cyber fraud activities. Failure to meet targets allegedly resulted in psychological pressure, isolation, and threats. Authorities believe the network functions as part of a broader transnational “cyber slavery” system involving both human trafficking and digital crime operations.
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Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Professor Triveni Singh described the operation as a highly organised and dangerous model. He stated, “This is a hybrid form of human trafficking and cybercrime. Victims are first lured with fake job offers, then transported abroad, where their passports and identity documents are confiscated, and they are forced into cyber fraud operations. This is modern digital slavery and requires coordinated international enforcement action to dismantle such networks.”
Investigators also found that the gang used fake social media profiles to trap victims. These profiles were created using stolen photographs and AI-generated images to appear authentic. The fraudsters initially build trust through friendship, then emotional manipulation, and finally lure victims into fake investment schemes and trading scams.
Police have recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, chat records, and recruitment-related documents from the arrested suspects. These materials are being analysed to trace financial transactions, identify international links, and uncover the wider network structure.
Officials believe the racket may have connections across multiple Indian states, and the investigation is expanding to identify additional victims and collaborators. Agencies are now working to map the financial flow and digital infrastructure used to sustain the operation.
The case remains under active investigation, with authorities focusing on dismantling the entire network and identifying how many more individuals may have been trafficked and forced into cyber fraud activities under similar fake overseas employment promises.
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.
