In the first five months of 2025, Indians lost a staggering ₹7,000 crore to online scams, according to data compiled by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

More than 50% of the amount was traced to scam operations run out of Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, an analysis by the Indian Express revealed.

Many of these scam networks are believed to be operating from high-security compounds controlled by Chinese syndicates. These locations often use trafficked people, including Indians, who are forced to work in cybercrime rings, the report added.

A government official was quoted as saying, “In January, ₹1,192 crore was lost to Southeast Asia-based countries, ₹951 crore in February, ₹1,000 crore in March, ₹731 crore in April and ₹999 crore in May.”

This means that, on average, Indians are losing about ₹1,000 crore every month to cyber scams, based on numbers shared by the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS).

Three main types of online scams identified

According to the MHA, the major frauds being run from Southeast Asia include:

These scams usually target unsuspecting citizens through fake apps, job offers, or scare tactics involving fake legal threats.

Dozens of scam compounds identified

“With the help of intelligence agencies, the government has identified at least 45 such scam compounds in Cambodia, five in Laos, and one in Myanmar,” the official said.

Indian law enforcement has also tracked agents who help recruit Indians into these scams. The highest number of such cases was reported from:

Based on current trends, I4C has warned that India could see losses crossing ₹1.2 trillion (₹1.2 lakh crore) by the end of the year if these cybercrimes continue unchecked.

The government has advised citizens to stay alert and report any suspicious activity through official platforms to avoid falling victim to such fraud.