A Ghanaian Youth Shares His Ordeal After Being Tricked into Scam Work in Cambodia
A young Ghanaian man currently residing in Cambodia has shared his heartbreaking and traumatic experience after being lured abroad under false pretenses. According to him, his journey started when he was arrested in Dubai and later sent back to Cambodia, where he has been for the past two months.
In an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show, he revealed that he first moved to Dubai with the help of his elder brother. However, things took a dark turn when he was manipulated and exploited by someone who promised him a job. Struggling financially, he was forced into a fraudulent scheme known as “silicon work” — an online scam operation that targeted unsuspecting victims, particularly from the U.S., while pretending to be based in America.
After this operation was exposed in Dubai, many of them were arrested and sent to deportation camps. He spent several weeks in detention before being deported to Ghana. Back in Ghana, things didn’t improve — he struggled to find a job and was again tricked by someone who charged him GHS 800 for a supposed job opportunity. When he couldn’t pay, the person demanded sex in exchange, which he agreed to due to desperation.
Later, he was introduced to a scamming operation in Ghana under the pretense of working for a delivery company called “Jumbo.” The job involved defrauding people by faking delivery notifications and tricking them into sending money. After scamming a few people, he started sending money home, thinking the job was legal. But when he realized how dangerous and illegal it was, it was already too late.
Eventually, he was offered a chance to travel to Cambodia with promises of better pay. The agent who facilitated the trip bought him a ticket and secured his visa, but upon arrival, he discovered that the working conditions were worse than expected. According to him, Cambodia felt like a prison — no freedom of movement, no access to phones during working hours, and brutal punishments if you disobeyed.
He claims people are often threatened with being thrown into the sea if they try to escape, and some even end up having their organs removed. One Ghanaian who tried to return home was never heard from again. Despite being promised $1000 a month, the work came with immense pressure, and most of the pay was deducted or delayed. Contracts are binding, and if you try to leave early, they refuse to return your passport.
The Ghanaian community in Cambodia is not united, he adds. Instead of helping each other, some betray others to the employers. Ghanaians are still being trafficked to Cambodia as of March 31st, despite all the warnings.
The young man, now 24 years old, says he deeply regrets his decision. He expressed that he is not gay but was exploited sexually in his time of vulnerability. He wants to go back to Ghana but doesn’t have his passport. He warns other young people not to be fooled by agents promising jobs abroad without doing proper research.
“I wish I could leave this place. If you have nothing doing in Ghana, find something small and manage. Don’t come to Cambodia. You’ll regret it,” he said, urging others to be cautious of agents and verify everything before traveling.
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