Pinoy scam hub victim repatriated from Cambodia

MANILA, Philippines — A victim of human trafficking who worked in a scam hub in Cambodia has returned to the Philippines, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the 31-year-old male victim arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight from Cambodia on Nov. 5.

The Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section said the victim left the Philippines in August last year to work in Malaysia.

When he arrived in Malaysia, the victim said he took a flight to Cambodia where he was recruited to work as a customer service representative for an e-commerce company handling a United States account.

The victim became a scammer working for a fraud ring in Cambodia.

“The victim realized that the consequences were far more severe than simply skipping meals. He was subjected to torture such as prolonged squatting exercises, electrocution and extended exposure to direct sunlight,” Viado said.

The victim repeatedly tried to resign, but his employers imposed a bond of $5,000 to prevent him from leaving.

The Philippine embassy in Cambodia intervened and assisted the victim.

The BI thanked the National Alliance of International Filipino Air Traffic Technicians and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the victim’s repatriation.