Glenn Harvey for NPR
Who are the workers behind the global scam industry?
In Cambodia, more than 200,000 scam workers have recently been released from fortified compounds. These individuals had often been trafficked and held against their will, forced to work for minimal pay. A crackdown by the Cambodian government has offered journalists a chance to examine an industry that is estimated to have defrauded Americans of at least 20 billion dollars by 2025.
How did these workers find themselves in Cambodia? What promises lured them into such a precarious situation?
In this two-part series for The Sunday Story, investigative reporter Shibani Mahtani explores the murky world of the global scam industry. She follows the journey of an Ugandan man drawn far from home by the allure of a job offer that was ‘too good to be true.’
Listen to Part 2 here.
The episode was produced by Justine Yan and edited by Jenny Schmidt, with audio engineering by Jimmy Keeley.
We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at [email protected].
Vice President JD Vance Engages in High-Stakes Talks on Tehran’s Nuclear Program 
Cambodia’s Scam Crackdown: Fallout and Humanitarian Crisis 
The Pitfalls of Unilateral Military Action 
Colombian Election Sparks Global Interest Amid Trump Endorsement 
Ceasefire Leads to Diplomatic Challenges for the U.S. 
Talks to End Iran War Initiate Amid Tensions