NEW DELHI: The Indian government said it was rescuing its citizens who were lured into employment in Cambodia and were being forced to participate in cyber fraud schemes.
The Indian embassy in Cambodia was working with Cambodian authorities and had rescued and repatriated about 250 Indians, including 75 in the last three months, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on Saturday.
Jaiswal was responding to Indian news reports that stated more than 5,000 Indians were trapped in Cambodia and being forced to carry out cyber frauds on people back home.
"We are also working with Cambodian authorities and with agencies in India to crack down on those responsible for these fraudulent schemes," Jaiswal said.
The Indian government and its embassy in Cambodia had issued several advisories informing them about such scams, the spokesman said.
The Cambodian embassy in India did not respond immediately to a request for comment today. — Reuters