How Bangladeshi jobseekers are trafficked into Cambodia’s scam compounds

Hundreds of Bangladeshis have been rescued from notorious scam compounds in Cambodia, revealing a sophisticated trafficking network that preys on jobseekers.

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But the income was simply not enough.

Victims are lured with promises of lucrative employment, often in countries like Saudi Arabia or Malaysia. However, upon arrival in Cambodia, their passports and documents are confiscated, and they are forced into illegal scam operations, targeting unsuspecting individuals, particularly the elderly.

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He was a very close friend. We are in fact related by blood.

Tofail Ahmed, a 26-year-old from Sirajganj, shared his harrowing experience after a friend suggested a computer operator job in Cambodia. The broker demanded Tk 7 lakh for a position that was supposed to pay Tk 80,000 monthly. Despite paying the sum to the broker and a manpower agency, Tofail received a visa identifying him as a construction worker. The broker dismissed his concerns, claiming the designation was temporary.

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I went to their office. It was an agency that regularly sent people abroad.

His journey involved complex travel arrangements, and he faced initial issues at the airline check-in due to transit visa requirements. The broker then arranged for a man to resolve the boarding pass issue, highlighting the organized nature of the operation. The scam centers are reportedly located in heavily guarded compounds, including those in the Bokor Mountains and Sihanoukville, previously identified by Amnesty International.

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I asked why construction worker. Wasn’t I supposed to go as a computer operator?