Japanese suspects say life was harsh in Cambodia scam operation

They went there with the intention to do this work. They don't mention anything about all the elderly they stole from and making their life awful.

I really don't care if they had it bad when they stole money from the weaker people.

Look like this poor people, is being forced to work in the scam scheme and they don't even know about it before really going there. It's already well known, even UN make report about it

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hundreds-thousands-trafficked-into-se-asia-scam-centres-un-2023-08-29/

Cambodian government know about this, most of the time they turn into blind eye, the people behind this is well connected to government.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-EtdC4zQso

Japanese suspects say life was harsh in Cambodia scam operation

Under 'New Capitalism ' young Japanese workers will learn how to exist under foreign technical trainee conditions.

What about life for those scammed?

It is not the same to call the Devil than to see him pass by. You should have thought about it before embarking in your evil trip.

@Albert

They went there with the intention to do this work. They don't mention anything about all the elderly they stole from and making their life awful.

No you are wrong, they are also being scammed to do online marketing job when they first go there.

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/online-scams-southeast-asia-create-double-victims-those-targeted-those-forced-carry

So far Japanese authority haven't make any effort and announcement to protect their citizen this. We can see they still treat them as suspects not victim.

The 25 suspects, who range in age from 20 to 42, entered Cambodia between March and August this

While other country already aware about this. They even setup task force to recover people that being victim of this kind human trafficking. Those 25 people still lucky, some of them they even still couldn't get home at all.

@Hercolobus

What about life for those scammed?

It is not the same to call the Devil than to see him pass by. You should have thought about it before embarking in your evil trip.

Those people are victims too, they are victims of human trafficking. Many others still being in captivity inside Cambodia, if they are still alive.

The second person said he had had to share a room with one other member and that the food they were given "did not taste good," according to the police.

The food is not going to be any better in prison

Diddums. They went there to rip off people. They'd hang if it were up to me for misery they've caused their victims.

Scammers are the lowest form of scum. The damage created extends far beyond the cash damage but includes embarrassment (suicide) not just to scam victims but the families of scam victims as well.

What is worse is that the people who are vulnerable to being scammed, their only mistake was to trust somebody. That in the long run continues to contribute to the decay of civility.

The criminal punishment for these animals should be life in prison. It may seem a little harsh, however the overall damage to society is permanent and irreversible. That in itself necessitates the need for both a severe punishment and to a lesser degree, serve as a deterrence to other would be scammers.

Well I certainly hope that prison life will be harsher, welcome home putrid people. May your winters be freezing and your summers sweltering.

If you curb the ability to scam, these jobs will be gone and this situation will not arise. Japan should implement a. ensuring the telcos disallow international incoming calls that show local numbers. b. a special (say 111) number that all government and banks must use to send text to residents and c. ensuring banks share in the loss when funds are transferred out to scammers. Taiwan seems to have solved this problem

This description is similar to how a Filipino dancer I knew was treated. Welcome to the Japanese way.

Typical Japanese victim mentality

@sakurasuki - Sorry you are getting so many downvotes despite being the only one here who is providing information. Welcome to JT.

This is a huge problem in Cambodia - it happens to young people from Taiwan, China and many countries other than Japan. They are lured to Cambodia with the promise of an online marketing job, and then become slaves. Many cases of these people being tortured and murdered if they fail to perform. They are victims as well - the vast majority did not travel with the intent to become criminals - they were forced to once they arrived. It is a form of human trafficking.

Maybe they were victim of human trafficking similar to the scam city, the secret slaves of Jessica Soho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGmCMCuOrWU

Absolute scum of the earth who deserve zero sympathy and very long prison sentences!

I doubt that prison will be any more comfortable.

I think a reasons for the down votes, at least mine is the links provided point to articles and videos of people who are legitimate victims of human trafficking. However, there's nothing here to indicate these pigs were victims of human trafficking.

Some of 25 Japanese men arrested have complained about harsh treatment.

The operative word, some. From the content of the article, it would be better written if it said two.

One of them told Japanese police that he had only one day off a month and was "not allowed to go outside" the apartment from which the scam was run.

Honestly I am relieved that I was arrested," the police quoted another as saying.

Yeah, Honestly quoted from a thief who made a living scamming / lying to people, specifically elderly people.

The second person said he had had to share a room with one other member and that the food they were given "did not taste good,"

The 25 suspects, who range in age from 20 to 42, entered Cambodia between March and August this year, swindled at least around 236 million yen through the scam calls, they said.

These scums knew what they were doing and stayed voluntarily. Japan being a wealthy country with a high percentage of elderly that are ripe for scammers. I am quite certain that the scum willing to scam, who speak native Japanese are paid quite well and a rare commodity and worth their weight in gold in the scammer world.

Again, there is no denying that human trafficking is a serious problem in the world. However, the articles that were l linked in previous comments point out that most of these victims, if not all, are from third world countries where this and other similar problems are quite significant.

To suggest that these scammers are absent from home for 6 months without any contact to family members and none of the family members, who by the way are living in Japan we're worried enough to report this lack of communication to the authorities?

*Cambodian authorities raided the apartment in September, detaining the 25 and confiscating devices, including dozens of mobile phones and computers.*

We're to believe that not once could any of these “victims” use any of these devices to seek help or rescue?

The allegations against the 25 include calling a woman in her 70s and defrauding her of 450,000 yen in cash, according to investigative sources. She was also duped out of 50,000 yen in electronic money under the pretense of resolving a dispute regarding her transfer

These animals knew what they were doing, stayed there willingly are not victims of human trafficking. These are selfish scum who deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

food they were given "did not taste good"

Does Japanese prison food taste good??

They deserve all the bad treatment they've gotten and are going to get. They need to think about the bad treatment they've dished out. No sympathy coming.

NO pity.

They went there for easy money..they didn't care about how harsh they turned lives of many vulnerable people ..They must be taken away from society for the rest of their lives.

Hopefully it will get even harsher while in prison.

Let's hope the police do some real investigations to find the ones at the top.

Life is harsh for innocent people because of the scammers like them. I hope they got locked up for life.

I seriously doubt that these guys aged 20 - 40yrs old who come from a wealthy G7 nation, are victims of human trafficking.

@sakurasuki

When you share links try to understand the context which is written. Again, as in other posts you just share random Links with incorrect information to the article.

@Ask Trade

The operative word, some. From the content of the article, it would be better written if it said two.

These scums knew what they were doing and stayed voluntarily.

We don't know whether they do that voluntarily or not, however that JT article already indeed mentioned that some of them aren't allowed to go outside. Why only saying some? It could be from 23 out from 25, are victims that being forced to do scam works while 2 are actual bosses. It's not easy to know for sure, once they're being taken into Japan custody the only narrative are narrative that being passed by Japanese authority.

Again, there is no denying that human trafficking is a serious problem in the world. However, the articles that were l linked in previous comments point out that most of these victims, if not all, are from third world countries where this and other similar problems are quite significant.

Basically you are denying that victim of human trafficking can be from developed nations, however that's not the case. You can check from @commanteer where victims also can be Taiwanese which is one developed nations,

EU published report number of citizens from developed nations, German, France, Italy that become victim of human trafficking, so it doesn't matter whether it's from third world or no.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/crim_thb_vctz/default/bar?lang=en

In the past human trafficking usually related to forced cheap labor and sexual exploitation, now there is new kind use of human trafficking which is force victims to do scams either by phone or online.

All previous links that I provided are reports from incidents that happened few years ago, it will take years sometimes to get information and then making a report from that. So if these Japanese victims also being included in report in the future, it will take another few years.

To suggest that these scammers are absent from home for 6 months without any contact to family members and none of the family members, who by the way are living in Japan we're worried enough to report this lack of communication to the authorities?

You obviously have no clue how problematic current Japanese family life, in fact why ore-ore scam are being popular in Japan? Because there area so many lonely elders in Japan that being ignored by their family, so when they received phone call those elders can be easily tricked, they don't even know whether those scammer are actual family or not.

We're to believe that not once could any of these “victims” use any of these devices to seek help or rescue?

All links that I provided give information what happened if by any chance they can avoid monitor and try to reach for help, they'll be punished physically.

Even if they somehow managed to get help and Cambodia police take an action, scam ring leader will be informed by Cambodia corrupt police so they just moved to a new location. After that person who reach help will be again punished.

These animals knew what they were doing, stayed there willingly are not victims of human trafficking. These are selfish scum who deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

You already assume they are 100% guilty, you have bias from beginning.

@MilesTeg

I seriously doubt that these guys aged 20 - 40yrs old who come from a wealthy G7 nation, are victims of human trafficking.

You can check from @commanteer where victims also can be Taiwanese which is one developed nations, EU published report number of citizens from developed nations, German, France, Italy that become victim of human trafficking, so it doesn't matter whether it's from third world or no.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/crim_thb_vctz/default/bar?lang=en

In the past human trafficking usually related to forced cheap labor and sexual exploitation, that's why in the past victims mostly from third world countries. Now there is new kind use of human trafficking which is force victims to do scams either by phone or online.

@Albert

I do understand but do you really read understand it? @Debians and @commanteer they don't have any issue

They went there with the intention to do this work. They don't mention anything about all the elderly they stole from and making their life awful.

How do you know about this? Even authority still try to find out, however from statement. From that article

was "not allowed to go outside" the apartment from which the scam was run.

that's a sign that they are not free to do things voluntarily.

The second person said he had had to share a room with one other member and that the food they were given "did not taste good," according to the police.

Cry me a river.

@sakurasuki

Still you don't understand and based on all the negative points you receive seems people do not agree with you as well.

A 10-20 jail stint in Cambodia should be better……bringing them back to Japan is like a holiday sentence.

@Albert

That's right they can disagree but it doesn't mean they are right.

sakurasukiToday  07:08 am JST

You can check from @commanteer where victims also can be Taiwanese which is one developed nations, EU published report number of citizens from developed nations, German, France, Italy that become victim of human trafficking, so it doesn't matter whether it's from third world or no.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/crim_thb_vctz/default/bar?lang=en

In the past human trafficking usually related to forced cheap labor and sexual exploitation, that's why in the past victims mostly from third world countries. Now there is new kind use of human trafficking which is force victims to do scams either by phone or online.

Nobody is saying that human trafficking doesn't exist. We're saying that it's irrelevant and not happening in this case involving 20-40yrs old men from a G7 country; Japan. Posting articles about it happening with other people in other countries is pointless because human trafficking has nothing to with these guys and the Yakuza. Provide one legitimate source that these men in this case are victims of human trafficking. That they were forced against their will, coerced, threatened, or kidnapped. Good luck.

There's also a corresponding article in JT called 'Like a video game': Japan's gangs hire online. The case is almost the same as this one only it takes place in Japan. But the same factors are involved; the Yakuza, scams targeting old people, and people taking the jobs. Those that took the jobs knew exactly what they were being asked to do; commit a crime. They weren't coerced, forced, or kidnapped. They knew exactly what they were doing.

Your using Japanese being recruited to do these jobs willingly under no false pretense is diminishing the true dangers of human trafficking.

@MilesTeg

Nobody is saying that human trafficking doesn't exist. We're saying that it's irrelevant and not happening in this case involving 20-40yrs old men from a G7 country; Japan. Posting articles about it happening with other people in other countries is pointless

I'll show you on how coincidences from link that I provided earlier.

Where those crime happened? Cambodia, coincidences?

What kind of crime? Online/Phone scams, another coincidence?

Were those people can't got outside freely while in Cambodia and held against their will, which usually indicates human trafficking? Yes they were, another coincidence?

Why Cambodia, because their official corrupt enough so ring leader can bribe to turn blind eye about human trafficking, there are plenty report about this.

Why this particular group get busted? Many reason, perhaps they don't pay enough to Cambodia official and those officials just don't happy about that.

Provide one legitimate source that these men in this case are victims of human trafficking.

This case is still being under investigation, there will be more story will come up after that. It will take some time for them to really complete actual report, maybe next year even another few years.

There's also a corresponding article in JT called 'Like a video game': Japan's gangs hire online. The case is almost the same as this one only it takes place in Japan.

In some cases, they even disguise their hiring process so applicant have no idea what actually what they'll do.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14863500

They weren't coerced, forced, or kidnapped. They knew exactly what they were doing.

We still can not ruled out, those Japanese being lured to Cambodia and then being coerced after they arrived. First thing those syndicates do is luring those people to do online marketing job, however once syndicate picked those people from the airport, those syndicates will ask them to handover their phone and passport. They bring one or two tugs to make those things happens, after that they brought to compound , only after that those people realized what they need to do scam just in order to survive. Otherwise they'll get punishment if they failed to comply. So yes it is coercion.

Whether they know whether they finally know their action is illegal, yes they do but remember they are too victim under coercion.

sakurasukiToday  04:43 pm JST

@MilesTeg

I'll show you on how coincidences from link that I provided earlier.

Where those crime happened? Cambodia, coincidences?

What kind of crime? Online/Phone scams, another coincidence?

Were those people can't got outside freely while in Cambodia and held against their will, which usually indicates human trafficking? Yes they were, another coincidence?

Why Cambodia, because their official corrupt enough so ring leader can bribe to turn blind eye about human trafficking, there are plenty report about this.

Why this particular group get busted? Many reason, perhaps they don't pay enough to Cambodia official and those officials just don't happy about that.

This case is still being under investigation, there will be more story will come up after that. It will take some time for them to really complete actual report, maybe next year even another few years.

In some cases, they even disguise their hiring process so applicant have no idea what actually what they'll do.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14863500

We still can not ruled out, those Japanese being lured to Cambodia and then being coerced after they arrived. First thing those syndicates do is luring those people to do online marketing job, however once syndicate picked those people from the airport, those syndicates will ask them to handover their phone and passport. They bring one or two tugs to make those things happens, after that they brought to compound , only after that those people realized what they need to do scam just in order to survive. Otherwise they'll get punishment if they failed to comply. So yes it is coercion.

Whether they know whether they finally know their action is illegal, yes they do but remember they are too victim under coercion.

You realize that three Japanese men escaped and were not captured in the Cambodian raid. If they were victims why did they run away. Because they were probably some of the ringleaders. Yes, some of the ringleaders were Japanese.

All you can provide is coincidence, conjecture, and opinion. You can't provide any evidence that proves these Japanese men aged 20-40yrs old were victims of human trafficking. The idea that men in their 30's & 40's were victims is highly unlikely.

It's more likely based on the facts and evidence of similar operations in Japan, that they knew exactly what they were recruited for like those in Japan knew what they were recruited for; to scam elderly Japanese victims. One thing for sure, once they started making calls, they knew it was a criminal activity, Unless they were held at gunpoint, which I doubt in Cambodia, 25 men could have easily overpowered their supposed captors and gone to the police or Japanese embassy.

@MilesTeg

You realize that three Japanese men escaped and were not captured in the Cambodian raid. If they were victims why did they run away. Because they were probably some of the ringleaders. Yes, some of the ringleaders were Japanese.

I never stated that ringleaders must be non-Japanese, it could be Japanese too. Also it can be mixed Japanese and non-Japanese, which make sense they need to have local contacts.

All you can provide is coincidence, conjecture, and opinion. You can't provide any evidence that proves these Japanese men aged 20-40yrs old were victims of human trafficking.

The idea that men in their 30's & 40's were victims is highly unlikely.

In recent years there are many Japanese people seeking opportunities abroad, if you really know Japanese people no matter what age they are. They can be really clueless and easy to trick. All bad actors need to do just convince them to fly to Cambodia for new opportunities. Check again links that I provided earlier, it shows how many people being tricked to go there for many kind of job position. Once they got there, they already being absorbed into trafficking scheme. First thing they'll experience when they land, they'll be asked for their passport and phone.

All you can provide is coincidence, conjecture, and opinion.

I never stated that all of them innocent , all I try to do just to show that there's possibility they can be victim too.

It's more likely based on the facts and evidence of similar operations in Japan, that they knew exactly what they were recruited for like those in Japan knew what they were recruited for; to scam elderly Japanese victims.

No that's not the case, check again those links I gave you. Anyone who can do marketing and selling, through phone or chat have good potential to do this kind of scam. So no need for prior experience at all. In fact if you know how telemarketer and call center do, they have script and being trained to use those scripts.

One thing for sure, once they started making calls, they knew it was a criminal activity, Unless they were held at gunpoint, which I doubt in Cambodia, 25 men could have easily overpowered their supposed captors and gone to the police or Japanese embassy.

People that being forced to scam, they quickly realized what they do is actually scam. When they receive explanation about their real job. Some of them indeed refuse instantly, only to get punishment in various kind.

I doubt in Cambodia, 25 men could have easily overpowered their supposed captors and gone to the police or Japanese embassy.

Not that easy, that's only your imagination. Check again those links that I already provided, is not easy to escape. Some scams center even have more than 25 people but somehow, ring leaders really now how to set show some power if someone refuse. So no need to really use gunpoint threat everyday to make those 25s to obey.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3192649/malaysian-victims-death-linked-asias-hell-earth-scam-trade

Ok, let's say you manage to escape, just imagine yourself on the street Cambodia and doesn't speak language, doesn't have phone and doesn't have passport with you. Only to meet and asking help with corrupt police that send you back to that ringleaders. Many of these unlucky escape already being attempted in Cambodia, currently thousands non-Cambodia still trapped there.

In fact it's even protected by Cambodia government, they are not only turn blind eye. They also make it difficult for international effort to fight this.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Threats-force-anti-trafficking-NGO-director-out-of-Cambodia

We do not know enough about this scammer group. We have to wait for more information about this case, we do not know who these arrested people are.

I guess they all are yakuza related gang members and many of them have already a criminal record in Japan.

Japanese in general when overseas often contact their family members by phone and internet and inform them about their whereabouts. A group of 25 people cannot so easily disappear and forced to do some illegal job and none of them is able to inform any person he know in Japan about his situation.