Abuse, Prostitutes & Impossible Targets: M'sian Gives Inside View Of Laos Scam Syndicate
The 23-year-old victim said he "lived in hell" for six months.
By May Vin Ang — 31 Dec 2024, 11:36 AM
When 23-year-old Malaysian security guard Salman was offered a job in Thailand six months ago, he jumped at the opportunity to earn a good salary while exploring a new country
However, his dream quickly turned into a nightmare when his new employer turned out to be a human trafficking syndicate. He was forced to work as an online scammer in Laos, living under constant surveillance and getting punished for the smallest infractions.
According to the New Straits Times, Salman was among five Malaysians recently rescued by the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO).
He was freed from a syndicate operating in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ), an area believed to be controlled by Chinese mafia.
MHO human trafficking unit head, Azirul Syafik Sazali (centre), meeting with the Malaysian victims.
Image via Mohd Haris Fadli Mohd Fadzil/New Straits TimesSalman recounted how, upon landing in Chiang Rai, Thailand, he was kidnapped and transported by boat to the GTSEZ in Laos
He described the area as heavily guarded, with a stark contrast between its luxurious facilities — featuring casinos, hotels, and well-maintained roads — and the poverty-stricken surroundings outside the zone.
"Inside the GTSEZ, there's everything: alcohol, prostitutes, entertainment centres — mostly for the Chinese syndicate bosses. If you look closely, all the shops here use Chinese characters, not Lao," he said when meeting MHO human trafficking unit head, Azirul Syafik Razali.
MHO taking a boat ride to the GTSEZ across the Mekong River during the recent rescue mission.
Image via Mohd Haris Fadli Mohd Fadzil/New Straits TimesSalman detailed how he was forced to conduct online 'love scams' targeting other Malaysians, with the monthly target of generating RM100,000 in 'sales'
"We were given scripts and taught how to lure victims from Malaysia through social media. Once the victims were sufficiently 'hooked', we would get them to join a fake investment scheme, taking their money by directing them to a fraudulent investment website," he said.
Salman revealed that the tactics were manipulative and cruel, where they were instructed to use profile photos of attractive women and engage in inappropriate conversations to entice victims.
If victims hesitated to invest, they were threatened with explicit photos obtained during the interactions.
For six months, Salman said he was forced to work for 18 hours a day and was promised an RM8,000 salary.
However, he never saw any money.
"If I managed to scam RM100,000, I was supposed to earn RM8,000, including commission. But the supervisors always found ways to deduct my pay. There was one month where my earnings were zero after fines, and I ended up owing the company," he explained.
Salman said his minders were fellow Malaysians, whom he identified as Sir Lim, Sir Ace, Sir Simon, and Sir Tyson, who maintained control through violence and fear.
"They would beat anyone who broke the rules. I saw it happen more than once," he said, adding that he was also once forced to eat pork after failing to meet the syndicate's impossible targets.
"That was my life for six months, living in hell," he said.
