Indian Youth Dies in Cambodia After Alleged Forced Confinement in Cyber Fraud Operation

A 22-year-old man from Coimbatore died in a Cambodian hospital shortly after being rescued by Indian Embassy officials from an alleged case of forced confinement in an illegal cyber fraud call centre. The incident highlights the growing threat of transnational cyber slavery, where Indian job seekers are coerced into online scam operations across Southeast Asia, raising serious concerns about human trafficking, cybercrime, and diplomatic responsibility.

Cyber News Dec 24, 2025 0 8 Add to Reading List

Indian Youth Dies in Cambodia After Alleged Forced Confinement in Cyber Fraud Operation

Young Indian Man Dies in Cambodia After Alleged Forced Confinement in Cyber Fraud Operation

A 22-year-old Indian national, D. Nandakumar, a resident of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, died late on December 17 in a hospital in Cambodia, hours after being rescued by Indian Embassy officials from what his family alleges was a month-long illegal confinement by cyber fraud operators.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the victim was allegedly forced to work in an illegal call centre engaged in online scam operations. His family claims that after he refused to participate in cybercrime, he was subjected to harassment, physical confinement, confiscation of his passport, and prolonged denial of food, leading to a severe deterioration in his health.

Nandakumar’s mother, D. Geetha, submitted a handwritten petition to the Coimbatore district administration, describing her son’s ordeal. In her statement, she alleged that her son was coerced into cyber fraud activities and punished for resisting. “Because he refused to engage in online fraud, my son lost his life,” she wrote, seeking immediate assistance for repatriation of his body to India.

The family stated that Nandakumar had been working at a hotel in Cambodia for nearly a year before being forcibly transferred six weeks ago to a call centre operated by criminal networks. During this period, he reportedly informed his mother about his captivity and worsening condition through phone calls. He was eventually admitted to a hospital, where doctors later declared him dead despite medical treatment.

Following his death, Geetha approached the district collector of Coimbatore for support. Embassy officials reportedly estimated the repatriation cost at ₹7 lakh, later revised to ₹3.5 lakh. Authorities stated that steps were being taken to facilitate the repatriation process. Nandakumar, who had completed Class X, was the sole breadwinner of his family, while his mother works as a domestic help.

This incident has once again drawn attention to a growing phenomenon described by law enforcement agencies as “cyber slavery”—a transnational criminal ecosystem that exploits Indian job seekers for cyber scam operations across Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. In July last year, the Tamil Nadu CB-CID uncovered a network involved in smuggling thousands of Indian SIM cards and recruiting workers for these fraud compounds, where many victims are reportedly held against their will.