Robust mechanisms and international collaboration are needed to counter ongoing cybercrimes in Southeast Asia
The BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat held earlier this month saw India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, address the online scam issue with his counterparts from Myanmar and Thailand. He raised this concern again during the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum held in Laos on 27 July, calling for robust mechanisms to counter ongoing cybercrimes. He underscored the importance of collective effort to safeguard regional security and economic stability.
According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), from January to April 2024, India suffered significant financial losses due to cyber scams originating from Southeast Asia: approximately US$16.96 million from 62,587 investment scams, US$2.65 million from 20,043 trading scams, US$1.43 million from 4,600 digital arrest scams, and US$0.16 million from 1,725 dating scams. In 2023, over 100,000 investment scams and 10,000 related FIRs were reported on the national cybercrime portal, raising concerns about the rising cases.
According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), from January to April 2024, India suffered significant financial losses due to cyber scams originating from Southeast Asia.
Cyberfraud has evolved into a modern form of human trafficking, with traffickers posing as job recruiters on social media, luring victims with promises of high salaries for those with English skills or technical backgrounds. Once in Southeast Asia, victims are coerced into running cyber scams, held in prison-like conditions, and forced to repay their “debt” through illegal activities such as online gambling and romance scams. These operations thrive amid the instability in Myanmar and the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scamming operations involve thousands of people, many of whom are deceived by deceitful online ads for profitable technological jobs and are eventually trafficked into scam complexes. These trafficked individuals, along with a small number of willing participants, come from over 60 countries worldwide, including India.
Many youths from rural areas in southern Indian states like Tamil Nadu (excluding Kerala) and Northern Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar prefer Southeast Asian countries due to their geographical proximity and attractive pay packages. They are mainly recruited as “Digital Sales and Marketing Executives” or “Customer Support Service”.
Many youths from rural areas in southern Indian states like Tamil Nadu (excluding Kerala) and Northern Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar prefer Southeast Asian countries due to their geographical proximity and attractive pay packages.
Myanmar’s lawless environment has fostered unlawful activities, including gambling and phishing. Myawaddy in Kayin state, which is close to the Thailand border, has been a site of intermittent rebel movements and clashes with the military junta and has turned into a scamming hub. These locations are guarded as per reports by the border guard forces. In Cambodia, abandoned spots, especially casinos and hotels, have been revamped for online conning and are shielded by criminal networks from the authorities. In Laos, SEZs like Zhao Wei's infamous Golden Triangle SEZ are the primary hubs of unlawful operations.
As the criminal networks within these nations have strong interlinks, they are shifting to new locations in these nations to evade capture. For instance, a crackdown by China’s law enforcement in late 2023 on such illegal compounds along the China—Myanmar border led many of these operations to move south to Myanmar’s Karen State, bordering Thailand, as well as to Cambodia and Laos.
In response to the increasing threat of transnational cybercrimes targeting Indians, the Indian government has established an inter-ministerial committee. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), established in 2020, provides a mechanism for law enforcement agencies to deal with cybercrimes comprehensively.
I4C, in collaboration with state agencies, has taken significant actions, including blocking around 325,000 mule accounts, 3,000 URLs, and 595 applications under Section 69A of the IT Act. Additionally, 530,000 SIM cards and 80,848 IMEI numbers were revoked under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act within a few months.
Furthermore, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued advisories warning about the fake job rackets targeting Indian youth without proper verification, especially those involving crossing into Myanmar to Indian embassies in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. The embassy works in close partnership with local establishments to curb this crime and protect Indian citizens who are trapped abroad.
In May 2024, the Indian Embassy reported the rescue of eight Indian nationals from a job offer scam in the Hpa Lu region of Myanmar's Myawaddy. The rescued citizens were safely handed over to Myanmar police and immigration authorities. Additionally, 19 Indian nationals were rescued from scam compounds in Myawaddy. The Indian embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has been actively repatriating Indian victims, with approximately 650 individuals already returned. 518 Indians from Laos have also been rescued. Despite these efforts, many more remain trapped in these centres.
Indian authorities have made multiple arrests related to illegal recruitment activities. In May, Visakhapatnam cybercrime police arrested three agents involved in sending individuals to cybercrime hubs, and similar arrests occurred in Odisha. Five more were arrested from Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
Indian authorities have made multiple arrests related to illegal recruitment activities. In May, Visakhapatnam cybercrime police arrested three agents involved in sending individuals to cybercrime hubs, and similar arrests occurred in Odisha.
The Indian government hopes that Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which clearly defines organised crime and came into effect on 1 July 2024, will improve the prosecution of culprits. This law allows for forming joint task forces comprising members from the CBI, NIA, and state police forces to ensure coordinated and comprehensive investigations. It also establishes robust mechanisms for sharing intelligence and information between national and state agencies.
A critical element of this law is coordinating with international law enforcement agencies to locate, arrest, and deport suspects involved in organised crime. Establishing comprehensive witness protection programmes that provide security and anonymity to individuals who come forward with information will be essential.
Indian and Cambodian governments have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on thwarting Human Trafficking in 2018 and ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC), which calls for curbing trafficking in persons, especially for women and children. Similar agreements are in place with the Myanmar government. An MoU with Laos on human trafficking will also be essential in this regard.
The political instability and ongoing strife within Myanmar significantly hinder the effective implementation of measures designed to prevent trafficking and protect victims. While the military authorities are helping in the rescue and repatriation of Indian citizens, dialogue with all stakeholders will be essential to ensure the rescue and repatriation of the victims.
Organised crime groups use advanced technology to evade detection, necessitating law enforcement to adapt and develop specialised skills to combat cybercrime. Adequate funding and trained personnel are crucial for effective enforcement. Beyond rescue efforts, rehabilitation and psychological support for victims are vital for their recovery and reintegration.
Addressing this complex issue demands a coordinated approach from India, Myanmar, and Cambodia, as well as international collaboration, to ensure the victims' safety and to effectively combat this serious human rights violation. Efforts from the regional bloc, ASEAN, in this regard will be essential. Although the ASEAN leaders agreed to increase collaboration in border supervision, security enforcement, legal actions, and repatriation of victims in 2023, more efforts need to be made in this regard. Furthermore, robust international pressure and support are crucial to dismantle such networks. Only through sustained and unified efforts can there be hope to eradicate these activities and restore dignity and safety to the victims.
Sreeparna Banerjee is a Junior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation
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Sreeparna Banerjee is an Associate Fellow in the Strategic Studies Programme. Her work focuses on the geopolitical and strategic affairs concerning two Southeast Asian countries, namely ...
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