Most Australians have been targeted by a scam attempt, from spam text messages to intricate love fraud. The scams have cost us billions.

But behind these attacks is a highly organised and secretive industry – fuelled by human trafficking. 

It’s believed hundreds of thousands of people are being held against their will in so-called “scam factories” across South East Asia, including in Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines. Many of these factories are run by Chinese-linked gangs operating in border regions.

Ben Yeo has seen first-hand how these compounds operate. In early 2024, he was kidnapped and trapped in a Cambodian scam factory. 

Today, Ben Yeo on how he escaped the scam compounds, and why so many others struggle to get out. 

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Ben Yeo, ambassador for the newly formed Australian International Counter Slavery Alliance (AICSA)

Background reading:Scam Factories

Photo: Valeria Mongelli/Getty Images

Most Australians have been targeted by a scam attempt, from spam text messages to intricate love fraud. The scams have cost us billions.
But behind these attacks is a highly organised and secretive industry &ndash; fuelled by human trafficking.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s believed hundreds of thousands of people are being held against their will in so-called &ldquo;scam factories&rdquo; across South East Asia, including in Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines. Many of these factories are run by Chinese-linked gangs operating in border regions.
Ben Yeo has seen first-hand how these compounds operate. In early 2024, he was kidnapped and trapped in a Cambodian scam factory.&nbsp;
Today, Ben Yeo on how he escaped the scam compounds, and why so many others struggle to get out.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Ben Yeo, ambassador for the newly formed Australian International Counter Slavery Alliance (AICSA)
Background reading: <a href="https://scam-factories-life-inside.netlify.app/">Scam Factories</a>
Photo: Valeria Mongelli/Getty Images

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

Trapped in a Cambodian scam factory

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0714beac-dcaa-46dd-a922-b29900509330/transcript

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