CBI Arrests Kanpur Man for Sending Indians to Overseas Cyber Scam Compounds

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a man from Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur for allegedly recruiting Indian jobseekers and sending them to cyber scam compounds operating in foreign countries. Investigators said the accused was involved in trapping unsuspecting individuals with promises of overseas employment before forcing them into organised online fraud operations.

The arrested individual has been identified as Krishna Kumar Lakhwani, a resident of Kanpur. According to officials, he played a key role in recruiting and facilitating the movement of Indian nationals to countries such as Cambodia and other Southeast Asian locations where large cyber scam networks operate.

Authorities said that many of the people who were sent abroad were unaware of the illegal activities they would be forced to carry out. Victims were allegedly lured with attractive job offers and assurances of well-paying positions overseas.

Investigators revealed that the accused would charge between USD 300 and USD 400 from each jobseeker as a recruitment or processing fee. Once the victims reached the foreign locations, they were reportedly confined inside organised scam centres where they were compelled to participate in cyber fraud operations targeting people in India.

These scam compounds are believed to be part of larger international cybercrime networks that operate from isolated facilities in some Southeast Asian countries. Individuals trapped in such facilities are often forced to conduct online scams, including impersonation fraud, financial fraud, and digital investment scams.

Officials said victims were made to contact people in India through phone calls, online platforms, and messaging applications to deceive them into transferring money or sharing financial details. The victims recruited by the accused allegedly had little freedom to leave these compounds and were often pressured to meet fraud targets.

The investigation forms part of a broader crackdown by Indian authorities on transnational cybercrime networks that exploit jobseekers and use them to conduct online scams. Law enforcement agencies have been increasingly tracking networks that lure Indians abroad and push them into illegal digital fraud activities.

Authorities said the arrest followed intelligence inputs and a detailed investigation into the recruitment network operating within India. Officials are now examining the accused’s connections with international crime groups and other individuals who may have assisted in sending victims overseas.

The case highlights the growing threat posed by international cyber fraud syndicates that recruit individuals under the pretext of employment opportunities. Experts warn that such networks often target young jobseekers who are looking for work abroad and may not verify the authenticity of recruitment offers.

Investigators have urged jobseekers to exercise caution while applying for overseas jobs and to verify recruitment agencies before making payments. They have also advised individuals to report suspicious job offers that demand upfront fees for foreign employment.

The CBI is continuing its investigation to identify other members of the recruitment network and determine the full scale of the operation. Officials believe that further arrests may follow as authorities expand the probe into the international cyber scam racket.