A massive international cybercrime and human trafficking case has come to light after a Gandhinagar doctor was tricked into a 123-day “digital arrest,” during which she was scammed out of ₹19.24 crore.
According to a media report, cambodian police have arrested over 100 Indian nationals who were reportedly forced to work in illegal call centres run by Chinese gangs. Among them are people from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Delhi. They were lured to Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs.
How the Scam Worked
Once in Cambodia, the Indians were made to pose as Indian enforcement officials and call victims, claiming they were involved in serious crimes. Victims, like the Gujarat doctor, were pressured to pay large sums to avoid arrest. The more successful the scam, the more bonuses the callers received.
To make the calls seem real, scammers used legally activated Indian SIM cards from places like Saurashtra, Kutch, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. These SIMs worked internationally but displayed Indian numbers, tricking victims into believing the calls were from Indian police or ED officials.
The Money Trail
Scam money was funneled through rented bank accounts in Gujarat. Account holders earned 2% commission, withdrew the money, and passed it to Angadia courier firms in Delhi. From there, it was moved through secret networks and eventually laundered into China.
Investigators have found CCTV footage of these transactions and expect more arrests soon. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is now informally involved in the case.
Interpol Steps In
Indian agencies are now seeking help from Interpol to catch the Chinese masterminds behind the scam and to bring back the Indians arrested in Cambodia. Gujarat CID believes this may be India’s biggest ever digital extortion racket.
A Doctor’s Ordeal
The whole scam was uncovered after a Gandhinagar doctor’s shocking experience. For 123 days, scammers kept her isolated under constant video surveillance, making her believe she would be arrested if she didn’t pay. Over that time, she transferred ₹19.24 crore to them—thinking it would save her from jail.