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‘It was traumatising’: Malaysian man on being forced into online scamming in Laos, Myanmar
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The victim was offered a job as a money changer, but was forced to conduct scams by a human trafficking syndicate.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ST FILE
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KUALA LUMPUR – When 25-year-old Malaysian tour guide Francis Liaw (not his real name) was offered a stint as a money changer in Laos in 2021, he jumped at the chance to earn a high salary for six months.
But his excitement became anguish when his new employer turned out to be a human trafficking syndicate that forced him to be an online scammer in Laos and Myanmar for more than a year, living under the watchful eyes of his minders and getting punished for the smallest offences.
