India is facing an unprecedented onslaught from cyber scams run out of Southeast Asian countries, losing a staggering Rs 1,000 crore every month in 2025 alone. This wave of cross-border cybercrime is not only draining the economy but also exposing thousands of Indians to human trafficking and forced participation in scam operations.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), more than Rs 7,000 crore was lost to online fraud between January and May 2025. Over half of these losses have been directly traced to scam syndicates based in Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, often operating from high-security compounds controlled by Chinese operators.
Monthly losses have ranged between Rs 731 crore and Rs 1,192 crore in the first five months of the year, with the risk of exceeding Rs 1.2 trillion annually if urgent action is not taken.
What sets these scams apart is their disturbing reliance on trafficked Indian and foreign workers. Over 5,000 Indians have reportedly been forced into scam operations in Southeast Asia, lured by fake job offers and then coerced into working in call centers and digital fraud factories. Victims from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and other regions have also been identified in these centres.
The scams, growing in complexity, typically involve:
Fake Stock Trading and Investment Apps: Promising high returns on stock market, crypto, or commodity investments. Victims see fake profits and are convinced to deposit large sums before scammers disappear.
Digital Arrest Scams: Victims are impersonated by callers posing as law enforcement or tax officials. Using threats of criminal charges or arrest, scammers extort large sums as “security deposits” or bail.
Task-Based and Job Scams: People are tricked into performing small tasks online (such as rating apps) and are paid initially. They are then convinced to invest more for higher returns, after which the scammers vanish with the money.
India could lose over Rs 1.2 trillion annually to cybercrime from Southeast Asia. The government, banks, and citizens must adopt much stronger digital hygiene measures, promote rapid reporting, and overhaul regulatory oversight.
