New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against five accused in a major cyber slavery and human trafficking case involving Indian youths allegedly forced into online fraud operations in Cambodia. Investigators claim the network targeted unemployed Indians with promises of lucrative overseas jobs before pushing them into cyber scam compounds operating across Southeast Asia.
Registration Begins for FutureCrime Summit 2026, India’s Largest Cybercrime Conference
Fake Overseas Job Offers Used to Lure Unemployed Youths
According to the NIA, the accused were part of an organized trafficking syndicate that recruited Indian youths under the pretext of legitimate employment opportunities and attractive salaries abroad. After reaching Cambodia, the victims were allegedly forced to participate in cyber fraud activities including digital arrest scams, fake investment schemes, online financial frauds and fraudulent call center operations.
The chargesheet was filed before a special court in Patna. The agency identified alleged mastermind Anand Kumar Singh, also known as Munna Singh, as the kingpin of the network. Investigators said he is currently absconding and had been operating an international trafficking and cyber fraud racket through a network of sub-agents and travel facilitators spread across multiple Indian states.
According to the investigation, the syndicate specifically targeted unemployed youths and individuals seeking overseas jobs in sectors such as customer support, hotel services, technical assistance, data entry and international call centers. Victims were allegedly convinced that they would receive legal employment and high salaries in foreign countries. However, officials claim their situation changed completely once they arrived abroad.
Passports Seized, Victims Forced Into Cyber Fraud Compounds
The NIA stated that the accused had built an organized trafficking pipeline to send Indian youths to Cambodia. Investigators alleged that the network charged between USD 2,000 and USD 3,000 for every recruit delivered to fraudulent companies operating in the region. Authorities believe the operation involved coordinated support from associates based both in India and Cambodia.
According to the chargesheet, victims’ passports were allegedly confiscated immediately after arrival in Cambodia. Investigators claim the recruits were then forced to work inside cyber fraud companies operating under strict surveillance. The agency further alleged that those who resisted were subjected to mental and physical torture. Officials claimed some victims faced electric shocks, confinement inside rooms and denial of food and water.
The chargesheet also names four co-accused — Abhay Nath Dubey, Rohit Yadav, Abhiranjan Kumar and Prahlad Kumar Singh. Investigators said Abhay Nath Dubey and Rohit Yadav are residents of Uttar Pradesh, while Abhiranjan Kumar is linked to Bihar. According to the agency, three accused were arrested earlier this year after arriving in Delhi from Cambodia. Another accused is currently out on bail.
Larger Transnational Cyber Crime Network Suspected
Investigators believe the case goes far beyond human trafficking and may expose a larger international cyber crime syndicate operating across Southeast Asia. Preliminary findings indicate that Indian youths inside these compounds were allegedly trained to conduct digital arrest scams, investment frauds, romance scams, fake banking verification calls and other forms of social engineering-based cyber crime.
Sources associated with the probe said victims were allegedly trained to impersonate police officials, financial regulators and government authorities during video calls and online conversations. Investigators suspect that several such scam centers operating in Cambodia and neighboring countries are targeting victims globally, including in India.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said international cyber gangs are increasingly using unemployment and overseas job aspirations as tools for organized human trafficking. According to him, the combination of social engineering, cyber slavery and transnational fraud networks is emerging as a serious security threat.
