Malaysians Tricked into Scam Operations in Cambodia After Being Lured by High-Paying Job Offers

Two friends from Felda Air Tawar 4 in Johor fell victim to an employment scam in Cambodia after being promised jobs at a casino with a monthly salary of RM4,000 ($960). Instead, they were forced into scam work, targeting people in Malaysia, and endured grueling 18-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. without pay. Nurazlin Zulkifli, 28, and Mohd Sofi Khairul Fadzilah, 33, were among eight Malaysians detained by Cambodian Immigration following a raid on their workplace in Sihanoukville in September. Their plight drew the attention of Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), who represents the Pengerang constituency. Through her assistance, they were able to return home safely.

Nurazlin recounted that she traveled to Cambodia on April 18, followed by Mohd Sofi a week later. Shortly after starting work, they realized they had been deceived and were trapped without pay. When they tried to leave, they were threatened with a penalty of RM30,000 ($7,200) for leaving.

The raid on their workplace led to the arrest of eight Malaysians, including individuals from Sarawak, alongside Nurazlin and Mohd Sofi. Cambodian Immigration detained the group. 

Mohd Sofi’s father, Khairul Fadzilah Awang, urged young people to be cautious and not easily swayed by attractive job offers abroad. He highlighted the importance of consulting family and thinking carefully before making such decisions and expressed gratitude to Datuk Azalina for helping bring his son home.

Datuk Azalina, after learning of the syndicate involving constituents, promptly contacted Wisma Putra, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to assist in the repatriation. Although the process was lengthy and costly, she initiated discussions with the Cambodian Ambassador and, through their joint efforts, secured the Malaysians’ safe return within a week. 

She emphasized the gravity of the situation, warning young people against similar schemes. Without intervention, the victims could have faced six months of imprisonment. 

The experience of Nurazlin and Mohd Sofi underscores the risks Malaysians face from deceptive job offers abroad, underscoring the need for awareness of employment scams and caution when seeking overseas opportunities.