Rescued Teen Ordered to Trick 100 Scam Victims a Day, Says She Was Threatened with Violence
Introduction to the Incident
A 14-year-old girl, who was rescued from a scam gang in Cambodia, has revealed a shocking account of being forced to deceive at least 100 victims a day under the threat of assault and starvation. The girl, who had gone missing from her home in Rayong province, Thailand, was allegedly lured into working for a call-center gang based near the Cambodia-Vietnam border.
The Rescue Operation
According to sources, a coordinated rescue effort involving Thai police, military, and their Cambodian counterparts successfully freed the girl. She was transported for hours from a location near the Cambodia-Vietnam border to the Khlong Luek immigration checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province in Thailand. The girl, identified only as “Mook,” was reunited with her parents on Wednesday night, crying as she hugged them.
The Girl’s Testimony
In her statement, Mook told officials that a man had initially approached her with a job offer in Sa Kaeo. After being picked up from her home, she was instructed to keep the job offer a secret. Once at the location near the Cambodia-Vietnam border, she was forced to participate in the scam operation, where she was ordered to deceive at least 100 victims daily. She claimed that if she failed to meet this quota, she would be assaulted and denied food.
The Ongoing Effort Against Call-Center Scams
This rescue comes amid growing efforts by Cambodian, Thai, and Myanmar authorities to combat the widespread call-center scams that have plagued the region. Many of these scams target Chinese nationals, with both the operators and victims largely coming from China.
In response to the rising issue, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is preparing to visit the Sa Kaeo border checkpoint on Friday to discuss the ongoing crackdown on scam centers with local officials. On Tuesday, she reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating scam gangs operating from neighboring countries, vowing that efforts will continue until the problem is eradicated.
Conclusion
The rescue of Mook highlights the disturbing nature of the scam operations that have become widespread in the region. With authorities intensifying their efforts to combat these illegal activities, the government remains dedicated to protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and ensuring justice for those affected.
