The victims were later taken to scam compounds, mainly in Myanmar and Cambodia, where they were allegedly subjected to conditions described as cyber slavery
NEW DELHI: The CBI on Wednesday said it had arrested a key accused, Ankit, in a network of agents allegedly involved in trafficking Indian nationals to scam compounds in Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar and Cambodia, on the promise of lucrative overseas jobs.
The agency said the investigation pertains to a network of agents and facilitators who recruited Indian citizens with promises of attractive employment opportunities in Southeast Asia. The victims were later taken to scam compounds, mainly in Myanmar and Cambodia, where they were allegedly subjected to conditions described as “cyber slavery”.
According to the CBI, Ankit allegedly sent at least four persons from the Hisar area to scam compounds in 2025. Statements of the victims revealed a pattern of deception and exploitation, the agency said.
Some of the victims allegedly had to pay substantial amounts to secure their return to India, while others were required to lure replacement recruits before they were allowed to leave the scam compounds.
The CBI said incriminating material recovered from Ankit’s seized mobile device indicated his alleged links with recruiters operating from scam compounds in Myanmar and Cambodia.
The agency is also examining several cryptocurrency transactions suspected to be commissions paid by operators of the scam compounds to agents involved in recruiting victims.
The accused allegedly used social media platforms such as Instagram to post advertisements offering overseas jobs and messaging applications such as Telegram to communicate with prospective recruits and other members of the network.
The CBI registered a case in December 2025 against a network of agents allegedly trafficking Indian nationals to scam compounds for “cyber slavery”.
As part of the same investigation, the agency conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across four states in May and June 2026 and arrested three persons allegedly linked to the trafficking network, a CBI spokesperson said.
