Govt data shows Southeast Asian countries luring Indians into cyber frauds of ₹1,500 crore a month
New Delhi: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has revealed that most cyber fraud cases targeting Indians are being operated from Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
The data, collected by the Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), also indicates that these frauds are primarily linked to networks allegedly managed by Chinese operators, according to The New Indian Express.
Indians are reportedly losing an average of ₹1,300 crore to ₹1,500 crore every month to these fraudsters, sources said on Sunday.
Further data from I4C shows that online financial losses suffered by Indian citizens between January and June 2025 amounted to approximately ₹8,500 crore, with more than half the cases reportedly linked to operations based in Southeast Asia.
However, the losses are found to be lower than those recorded in 2024, when the monthly average stood at ₹2,200 crore. The decline, according to sources, is attributed to improved surveillance, international cooperation, and public awareness campaigns conducted by the I4C.
Sources also highlighted that many of these operations are run from secure facilities in countries like Cambodia and Myanmar, which often serve as hubs for large-scale digital fraud, including phishing, online investment scams, and fake job offers.
Additionally, the I4C has found that some Indian citizens are themselves involved in these criminal activities—many of them forced into participating. According to sources, individuals are often lured or trafficked abroad under false promises, and later coerced into working in call centres that target Indian users for online fraud.
The I4C continues to collaborate with international agencies and local legal bodies to detect and dismantle such networks. It also urges citizens to remain cautious of suspicious online schemes and to report cybercrimes through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India-bound LPG tanker clears Hormuz
New Delhi (PTI): A tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for India has sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz and is now headed towards the country, an official statement said on Sunday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti, loaded with 46,313 tonnes of LPG and staffed by 20 crew, including 18 Indians, cleared the key shipping chokepoint on May 2 and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam on May 13, it said.
The cargo -- enough to meet half a days requirement of the country -- will partly tide over supply constraints being faced since the start of the West Asia conflict more than two months back.
Ship-tracking data showed its position in Oman Gulf on Sunday evening.
The very large gas carrier has previously made runs between the Persian Gulf and Indian ports, has been chartered by state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Sarv Shakti is the first India-linked tanker to cross the war zone since a weeks-old US blockade of ships tied to Iran began, pushing transits through Hormuz back down to almost zero.
There are as many as 14 Indian flagged or India-owned vessels still stranded on the west side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement said no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure crew welfare and uninterrupted operations.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) control room has handled 8,373 calls and more than 17,965 emails since activation, including 38 calls and 127 emails in the last 24 hours.
India has also facilitated the repatriation of more than 2,953 seafarers so far, including 31 in the past day from across the Gulf region.
Port operations across the country remain normal with no congestion reported, the statement added.
