Amid the ongoing cyber-attacks about Cambodia being a hotbed for Indian citizens falling for “job offers” in human trafficking scams, a Khmer Times investigation has unearthed how the scammers are using local social media platforms to find their victims as well as the modus operandi used in the cons.
A recent fact-finding mission by a Khmer Times journalist found a number of messages on Facebook and Telegram, the two most popular platforms in both India and Cambodia, posted by users that appeared to be “recruiters” specifically looking for Indian candidates to fill positions based in Cambodia.
Instead of posting their announcement with the media outlets or job recruitment agencies, the recruiters have written them in groups and channels created for the purposes of finding jobs or networking sites among the expats in the Kingdom. The recruiters have not revealed the name or identity of companies or businesses and instead give out the information that the job will be based in commercial hubs, specifically Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Poipet.
The messages showed that the recruiters appeared to be attempting to provide the candidates with lucrative compensation by offering salaries “ranging from $800 to $3,500” to on-site benefits such as free food and accommodation. What is even stranger is that the recruiters have not laid out any requirement for special skills in the job, other than the ability to communicate with their fellow citizens in Hindi, Bangla or/and English.
For example, a Facebook user known as Xin Fin posted a job offer on Cambodia Jobs for Indian nationals last week. He or she wrote that the job will be in “customer service” with a salary up to “$1,200 plus a work bonus with free accommodation and food”. The requirements are the bare minimum: 18–35 years of age, being able to type 25 words per minute, and being able to speak Hindi and “50% English”.
“We need Indian and Bangladeshi candidates urgently for online casinos,” Xin Fin posted in Cambodia Jobs.
However, it is widely known that the Cambodian government has outlawed online gambling since 2019.
Many similar messages have been found in several groups aimed at networking expats, especially those of the gathering members of the Indian community in the Kingdom.
In another example of such announcements, the recruiter claims that candidates from India can fly directly to Cambodia and start working immediately after they accept the attractive offers without having to face a complicated filing process.
This, however, goes against the legal procedure for hiring foreigners in the country.
Foreign workers seeking employment in Cambodia must obtain a valid business visa, known as an E-class visa, as stated by Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. Initially valid for 30 days, the E-class visa can be extended for periods of one month, three months, six months, or up to one year. Extensions can be requested through the immigration department of the Ministry of Interior (MoI).
The six-month and 12-month visas allow for multiple entries into Cambodia, while the one-month and three-month visas only permit single entries. E-visas can be acquired at the nearest Cambodian embassy or upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport.
In addition to the E-visa, foreign workers must also obtain a work permit and an employment card, which are the responsibility of the employer.
Employers can apply for these through the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MVLT).
Chou Bun Eng, Permanent Vice-Chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), has identified these recruiters as scammers targeting Indian nationals.
“We have reported them to the Indian Embassy while we continue to investigate into the identity of real victims and real offences,” she said. “That is because, from our experience, many who claimed to be victims of human trafficking have been eventually found to be illegal immigrants who want to go back to their country without having to face the consequences of their actions.”
The Indians in Cambodia received the world’s attention when the Indian Express late last month quoted a “source” from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) saying that more than 5,000 Indian nationals have been abducted and “allegedly being used” by criminal syndicates in Cambodia to carry out cyber fraud on their fellow countrymen back home, including pretending to be law enforcement officials and saying that they had found some suspicious materials in their mail.
“Data shows that Rs 500 crore (nearly $60 million) has been lost (to cyber fraud originating in Cambodia) in India in the last six months,” the source was quoted as saying.
However, it was confirmed later by MHA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal and Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Dr Devyani Uttam Khobragade that the real number is even less than 1% of the figure reported by the Indian Express.
“We only know that around 300 Indians have reached out to the embassy to be rescued since 2022, out of whom we have been able to rescue around 250 with the help of Cambodian authorities,” Dr Khobragade said.
Bun Eng, however, is angered by the report in the Indian Express, as it has caused damage to Cambodia’s reputation and will also have an impact on the two countries’ relations.
“Indian representatives have approached us and apologised, and I really respect that,” she said. “But if the source who spoke to the newspaper is real, it is still from an Indian official.”
“While we are working hard on preventing and cracking down on the real criminals, we need the Indian authorities to raise their people’s awareness on the issue and prevent them from falling for the scam before they fly to our country.”
With the anticipation of an influx of Indian tourists following the announcement of the inaugural direct flights between Phnom Penh and New Delhi earlier this month, this report casts a shadow over the nation’s tourism prospects. Last year, Cambodia saw a remarkable increase in Indian visitors, with 68,836 arrivals recorded – a staggering 102% surge from the previous year’s 34,016, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism.
In a recent announcement, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia raised the alarm over a disturbing trend involving Indian nationals falling victim to human traffickers offering employment under the guise of promising job opportunities in Cambodia.
The embassy issued a warning on April 4, 2024, cautioning Indian citizens against fraudulent schemes that exploit their aspirations for employment. According to the embassy’s statement, unsuspecting Indian nationals are being enticed by false promises of lucrative job prospects in Cambodia. However, upon arrival, they are coerced into participating in illegal activities, including online financial scams. This alarming trend underscores the perils faced by vulnerable individuals seeking employment abroad and highlights the need for heightened vigilance.
In response to these concerning developments, the Indian Embassy has urged Indian nationals to exercise caution and vigilance when exploring employment opportunities in Cambodia.
Prospective job seekers are advised to engage only with authorised agents and thoroughly research the background of potential employers in Cambodia to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes.
Furthermore, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has assured that the Indian government is collaborating with Cambodian authorities to address the issue and provide assistance to affected Indian nationals.
Through its mission in Phnom Penh, the Ministry is working closely with local authorities to combat human trafficking and protect the welfare of Indian citizens in Cambodia.
