**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of External Affairs addresses Lok Sabha Question No. 1259 regarding the trafficking of Indian citizens for cyber fraud in overseas locations, answered on February 6, 2026. It details the Government of India's efforts to rescue and repatriate affected citizens, primarily from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar, and the measures taken to deter recruitment agents involved in these activities. A key aspect is the collaboration with host countries and the dissemination of advisories to caution prospective emigrants.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Awareness of the Issue:**
* The Government is aware of instances where Indian nationals are lured to South-East Asian countries through fake recruitment offers via social media channels and forced into cybercrime.
* **Rescue and Repatriation Efforts:**
* Indian Missions in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar have rescued Indian nationals.
* The number of rescued nationals from 2022 to 2025 is as follows:
* Cambodia: 44 (2022), 207 (2023), 982 (2024), 1,300 (2025)
* Lao PDR: 74 (2022), 244 (2023), 558 (2024), 1,421 (2025)
* Myanmar: 338 (2022), 89 (2023), 147 (2024), 1,594 (2025)
* **Government Actions and Coordination:**
* The Government of India prioritizes the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad, raising the issue with host governments.
* Missions/Posts actively engage with local authorities for rescue and repatriation.
* The Ministry issues advisories and uses social media to warn about fake job rackets.
* Collaboration with Indian Missions/Posts and Protectors of Emigrants ensures quick action.
* **Deterrent Measures and Awareness Campaigns:**
* A list of 3,505 unregistered recruiting agents (till December 2025) is available on the e-Migrate portal.
* Information is shared with State Governments and agencies like I4C and MHA.
* Awareness campaigns on cybercrime are conducted through various channels, including SMS, social media, radio, and public announcements.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact: Indian Nationals Abroad**
* **Impact**: Vulnerable to trafficking and forced labor in cyber fraud operations.
* **Action Required**: Verify recruitment offers and companies, avoid fraudulent job offers, and report illegal agents to authorities.
**Impact: Recruiting Agents and Agencies**
* **Impact**: Scrutiny and potential legal action for illegal recruitment activities.
* **Action Required**: Register on e-Migrate portal, comply with legal requirements, and avoid fraudulent practices.
**Impact: State Governments and Law Enforcement Agencies**
* **Impact**: Need to address complaints against illegal agents and dubious firms.
* **Action Required**: Collaborate with central agencies, take action against illegal recruiters, and spread awareness.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: Indian government ministry responsible for foreign relations.
Lao PDR: Country in Southeast Asia where many Indian nationals have been trafficked for cyber fraud.
Myanmar: Country in Southeast Asia where many Indian nationals have been trafficked for cyber fraud.
Cambodia: Country in Southeast Asia where many Indian nationals have been trafficked for cyber fraud.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1259
ANSWERED ON- 06/02/2026
TRAFFICKING OF INDIANS FOR CYBER FRAUD IN THE OVERSEAS
1259. SHRI K C VENUGOPAL
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of Indian citizens trafficked abroad and forced into
cyber fraud operations;
(b) whether bilateral agreements exist to dismantle scam centres
operating overseas, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the role of MEA in securing repatriation of victims;
(d) whether crypto-based laundering is being tracked effectively
across borders, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the deterrent measures that exist against recruiters in India?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
1(a to e) Government has been made aware of instances of dubious
firms involved in fake recruitment job offers having lured Indian
nationals mostly through social media channels to South-East Asian
countries including Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR and made them to
carry out cyber crime and other fraudulent activities from scam
centres operating in these countries. The exact number of Indian
nationals stranded in these countries is not known as Indian
nationals reach these scam centres on their own volition through
fraudulent/unscrupulous recruitment agents/agencies and through
illegal channels. With the concerted efforts of our Embassies in
Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, the number of Indian nationals
rescued in the last four years (till December 2025) is mentioned in
the table below:
S.No. Country No. of Indian Nationals rescued
2022 2023 2024 2025
1 Cambodia 44 207 982 1,300
2 Lao PDR 74 244 558 1,421
3 Myanmar 338 89 147 1,594
Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and well-
being of Indian nationals abroad. Government of India has raised this
2issue at political level with the host Government from time to time.
Missions/Posts take up the issue of rescue and repatriation of Indian
nationals actively with the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other
concerned Government agencies of the host country like
Immigration, Labour Department, Home Affairs, Defence and Border
Affairs and law enforcement agencies.
Ministry issues advisories and social media posts about the
fake job rackets from time to time. Similar communications are also
issued by the respective Indian Missions/Posts abroad through their
official websites, social media handles and print media. Our
Missions in South-East Asian countries issue advisories, upon
receiving such information on Indian nationals being lured by fake
job rackets in South-East countries, to job seekers, and advise them
to verify all antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before
accepting any kind of employment offer and not be enticed and
entrapped in the fraudulent job offers in these countries.
Ministry, in coordination with the Indian Missions/Posts abroad
and offices of Protectors of Emigrants in India, takes quick and
decisive action whenever instances of exploitation of job seekers by
illegal agents come to notice. A list of 3,505 unregistered recruiting
agents (till December 2025) has been notified on e-Migrate portal to
3caution prospective emigrants. This information is regularly updated
based on the complaints filed by the aggrieved individuals and based
on the inputs received from our Missions/Posts abroad. The
complaint against the illegal agents and the dubious firms luring
Indian youth in false recruitment offers through various channels are
regularly shared with the respective State Governments and other
agencies such as I4C, MHA for suitable action. To spread awareness
on cyber crime, the Central Government has taken steps which inter-
alia include, dissemination of relevant information through SMS, I4C
social media account, radio campaigns, engaged MyGov for publicity
in multiple channels, organizing cyber safety and security
awareness weeks in association with States/UTs, newspaper
advertisement on digital arrest scams, announcements in Delhi
Metros on digital arrest, and other modus operandi of cyber crimes.
*****
4