Kochi Cyber Police have arrested a 24-year-old man allegedly linked to a Cambodia-based online fraud network that cheated a Kochi-based doctor of ₹37 lakh through a fake online trading scheme. The accused, identified as Abdu Rahman, a native of Thootha in Palakkad district, was arrested in Delhi, police said.
According to investigators, Rahman was a key member of an online fraud syndicate operating from Cambodia and was involved in scams targeting Indian citizens. Police said Cambodia has emerged as a major hub for online fraud operations directed at India, with networks allegedly run by foreign operators and staffed by Indians recruited through fraudulent means.
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Doctor Duped Through Fake Trading Scheme
The case relates to the alleged cheating of a Kochi-based doctor who was persuaded to invest in a fraudulent online trading scheme after initial contact was established through a matrimonial website.
Police said the fraud network shifted its focus to matrimonial platforms after public awareness campaigns reduced the effectiveness of traditional online scam methods. The accused allegedly created fake profiles of men and women on matrimonial websites and built relationships with prospective brides and grooms.
Investigators said victims were later persuaded to invest in online trading schemes under the pretext of building financial security for a future together.
From Scam Centre Worker to Team Leader
According to police, Rahman had been working at a scam centre in Cambodia since 2022. Initially, he was involved in sending messages and making calls to potential victims.
Investigators alleged that his performance in executing fraud schemes led to his promotion as a team leader by a Chinese national identified as Tian. Police said Rahman was later entrusted with recruiting people from India for the operation.
The syndicate initially targeted victims through advertisements for online trading platforms and loan applications circulated on social media, officials said.
Network Spanned Multiple Countries
Police said the fraud network involved operatives from multiple countries. Investigators stated that many young Indians were reportedly taken to countries such as Thailand and Vietnam on visiting visas before being transported by road to Cambodia, where they were employed at scam centres under the guise of legitimate jobs.
As part of the investigation, Kochi Cyber Police said they have identified and removed more than 1,000 fake matrimonial profiles linked to similar frauds. Officials added that four accused had already been arrested earlier in connection with the case.
Information obtained from those arrests helped investigators uncover significant details about the Cambodia-based fraud network, police said. The investigation remains ongoing.
