The dream of a better future overseas turned into a nightmare for 23 Kenyans who left their homeland hoping for job opportunities in the Middle East. Instead, they were reportedly tricked into traveling to Myanmar, where they were forced into a scam operation run by a Chinese national.
Rather than securing legitimate employment, the victims—alongside others from different countries—were subjected to brutal treatment when they resisted. According to The Bangkok Post, those who refused to cooperate faced severe torture until they agreed to take part in fraudulent activities.
One Kenyan managed to escape, crossing the Thai-Myanmar border and limping his way to a police station in Western Thailand’s Phop Phra District. Seeking help from a local shopkeeper, he alerted authorities and revealed harrowing details of his captivity. He claimed that over 1,000 people, including himself, had been coerced into the scam ring and suffered beatings for non-compliance.
Before his daring escape, the victim recounted being held in Myawaddy, a region in Myanmar notorious for being a hub of fraudulent operations. His journey to freedom involved trekking over mountains and covering more than 10 kilometers on foot.
Shockingly, he disclosed that he had initially arrived in Thailand on October 5, 2024, with the expectation of working as a chef. A recruitment agency in Kenya had facilitated his travel, and upon landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he and two other Kenyans were received and taken to Mae Sot, only to be trafficked across the border into Myanmar. Once there, they were forced to participate in cryptocurrency scam activities.
When he refused to comply, he was viciously beaten, with his captors using a stun baton and a baseball bat to inflict pain.
The survivor also revealed that victims from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were among the many lured into the fraudulent scheme.
Employment scams targeting Kenyans have become an alarming trend, with many falling victim to fake job offers and online fraud. On February 4, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs issued an advisory, warning citizens about the surge in visa fraud and deceptive recruitment agencies.
Authorities emphasized the need for vigilance when seeking jobs abroad, urging individuals to personally oversee their visa application processes and conduct thorough background checks before committing to international travel.
Leave a Reply