Some of the rescued victims completing legal paperwork for their return home at the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh in May. - Photo: Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh
PHNOM PENH: The Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh in collaboration with local authorities has rescued over 1,000 Indians from scam operations since 2022, with nearly 80% of those rescues occurring in the first three quarters of 2024 alone, but fake job offers continue to pose a concern for Indian nationals.
According to the report provided to Khmer Times, the embassy highlighted the rises seen among Indian nationals who fell for job scam operations, with about 770 Indian nationals having been rescued and repatriated this year alone.
“Cambodia and other countries in Indochina and Southeast Asia have witnessed an increase in online cybercrimes since 2022,” it said.
“In response, the mission in Cambodia has been working with Cambodian authorities to rescue Indian victims.”
The embassy also underlined the activeness of Cambodian police in supporting the embassy in rescuing and sending home Indian victims.
“The police respond positively whenever the Embassy requests the rescue of the victims,” it said.
“A hotline number, operated by the Cambodian Police, where victims or anyone on their behalf can inform police for rescue, is also working effectively.”
However, the embassy noted that the number of Indian citizens stuck in scam compounds in Cambodia is not exactly known because these Indian nationals reach these scam centres on their own through fraudulent agents and sometimes following misleading advertisements on social media.
Amid the rises in job scam operations, the mission issued multiple advisories cautioning Indian nationals intending to visit Cambodia for employment to do so only through authorised agents.
“Stricter checks have been implemented at immigration in Indian airports, which include the display of advisories,” it added.
The embassy has taken steps to tackle such an issue at the highest level, including the close cooperation with the Ministry of Interior.
In the latest case, seven young Indians who escaped from scammers operating in Cambodia and sought refuge in the Indian Embassy have been repatriated and reached home on Sunday (Oct 27).
Interior Ministry Spokesman Touch Sokhak said that the Cambodian government is willing to collaborate with all the foreign missions in the country to ensure the security and well-being of all people.
“Not only for the Indian Embassy, authorities are set to intervene in any reported cases by all the missions in the Kingdom,” said Sokhak.
“We must rescue in a timely manner as it can affect their lives, and every country is working very hard to combat cyber scams.”
He also highlighted that all the collaboration between countries also reflects the good relationships among them as well, reflected through the willingness to contribute to shared concerns.
Recently, the Interior Ministry has established a high-level committee with representatives in the capital and provinces to arrest perpetrators and present them, along with any evidence, to the courts for prosecution in accordance with the law.
In cases involving foreign nationals, the procedures outlined in the immigration law will be meticulously followed. - Khmer Times
