On Sunday, nine human trafficking victims in Thailand finally returned safely home to Taiwan. Now authorities are trying to spread awareness about what kind of ploys scammers may use to lure victims overseas.
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It's fairly common for film crews to travel to other countries to make movies. But now Taiwan's government is urging crews to be careful about traveling abroad for new work opportunities, which may be a front for human trafficking activities.
Reports say companies have reached out to film crews urging them to come quickly to Cambodia for well-paid assignments. The recruiters offered few details about the film projects and seemed more interested in how many people the crew could bring to Cambodia.
One director says he was robbed and later kidnapped while traveling in Southeast Asia. He says under normal circumstances, crews and recruiters spend a long time discussing the details of the contract before agreeing to anything. He adds that scammers quickly move from stating their offer to arranging a starting date, with little room for questions.
There are also rumors about fraudulent companies that set up shop in Taiwan, hire new employees, and offer a company trip to Cambodia six months later. One report claims these scams are commonly geared towards workers in the entertainment industry.
Once employees arrive in the new country, the scammers force them into joining their scheme and make it difficult for them to return to Taiwan. As more human trafficking cases come to light, authorities recommend using extra caution when traveling abroad for new opportunities.