Cambodia is fast gaining notoriety as a hotspot for cybercrime, with cyber mafias expanding their networks in the region. Chinese cybercriminals, involved in defrauding Indian citizens, have turned Cambodia into a central hub for online scams. Mumbai Police have arrested 24 Indians in two separate cases for aiding cybercriminals operating from Cambodia.
According to police investigations, these gangs were supplying Indian bank account details to cybercriminals in Cambodia in exchange for hefty commissions. Many of the arrested individuals had visited Cambodia multiple times to collaborate with these cyber gangs.
The Dongri Police began investigating a cyber fraud case filed last year and, in December 2024, arrested Gautam Gopal Das and Srinivas Raju Rao. During their interrogation, the name of Omkar Thorat from Karad, Satara district, surfaced. Upon Thorat's arrest, he confessed to selling his bank accounts to his friend Shrikant Balasaheb Salunkhe from Hinjewadi, Pune. Further interrogation of Salunkhe led the police to Ojas Chaudhary from Bhusawal, Jalgaon district, who was subsequently arrested in a sting operation in Mumbai. His interrogation revealed the involvement of several others in the scam.
Dongri Police have arrested 11 more individuals in this case, including Akash Dusane alias Akash Sonar from Pathardi Phata, Nashik, and Dinesh Tayade from the same area. Five of these arrests were made in Goa. Police also seized luxury vehicles, including a Jaguar from Tayade and another high-end car from Dusane. The primary accused, Tayade, Dusane, and Mohammad Patel, had reportedly traveled to Cambodia multiple times, supplying bank account details and documents of Indian citizens to cyber mafias, which were then used for fraudulent activities.
Another 12 Arrested by Gamdevi Police
In a parallel investigation, Gamdevi Police arrested 12 individuals connected to another Cambodian module. Several of these accused had visited Cambodia multiple times, supplying hundreds of Indian bank accounts to cybercriminals. Three of the arrested individuals had worked with Chinese nationals in Cambodia to run a fraud racket. The accused converted the scammed money into cryptocurrency before transferring it to Cambodia.
According to police, Rajendra Singh, originally from Rajasthan, was the mastermind behind this racket. A police official stated, "He posed as a Cambodian citizen under the alias Kun Hash. Singh, along with Kulkarni and Kale, had previously visited Cambodia and worked with firms involved in cyber fraud."
Exploitation of Indian Youth in Cambodian Call Centers
Investigations revealed that Chinese nationals are operating call centers in Cambodia dedicated to cyber fraud. These call centers employ a large number of young Indian men and women, who are coerced into participating in scams across India. The youths are lured to Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs, only to have their passports confiscated by Chinese gangs and forced into illegal activities.
Modus Operandi of the Cybercriminals
Singh, Kulkarni, and Kale recruited youths from Solapur, Rajasthan, and Punjab to open bank accounts in their names, promising them commissions of 2% to 5%. A police officer explained, "To prevent the account holders from fleeing with the money, they were provided accommodation until the funds were transferred or withdrawn."
Kulkarni and Singh took the bank account details to Cambodia and handed them over to Chinese operatives. They procured bank kits and mobile SIMs linked to these accounts. The Indian accomplices shared OTPs with the foreign criminals, who then transferred the funds to various accounts, converted them into cryptocurrency, and funneled the money abroad.
Keshav Kulkarni, Rajendra Singh, and Namdev Kale had traveled to Cambodia to collaborate with the cybercrime syndicate. With the help of their Indian associates, they defrauded citizens across multiple Indian states. Police discovered a total of 110 bank accounts linked to the accused, with deposits amounting to approximately ₹30 crore. Cases have been registered against the accused in Delhi, Kolkata, Nashik, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Gujarat, and other parts of the country.