A man who was lured to a Cambodian scam operation where he faced violence and was forced to work offered to share his story. Mekong Independent is publishing his account with only a few edits for clarity.
My name is Eric Luwesi, a Ugandan national born on 15 October 2000. I am 25 years old. I come from a large family being raised by a single mother after my father passed away in 2018. Since then, I have worked hard to support my family, especially my mother and younger siblings.
In 2025, while using Facebook, I was contacted by an individual offering me a job opportunity in the IT sector. I was informed that all expenses, including travel and visa processing, would be fully covered, except for a small agent fee. Communication was later moved to Telegram.
I was sent travel documents, including a ticket and visa, and promised a monthly salary ranging between $800 and $1,200. My travel date was scheduled for November 2.
Upon arrival in Cambodia at around 8:00 p.m., I was instructed to delete all previous communications from my Telegram and Facebook accounts. Shortly afterward, a vehicle picked us up. There were two passengers and one driver, and we traveled for approximately eight hours. The driver did not respond to our questions, as he did not speak English.
We arrived at a company compound early in the morning and were told to rest until later that night. When I reported to the office, my passport was confiscated. I was informed that I had to work under their conditions and that if I wanted to leave, I would have to pay $5,000. My phone was monitored, and I was restricted from communicating freely.
After two days of training, I realized the work involved scamming people online by convincing them to invest money into fraudulent platforms. The office had around 200 workers from various nationalities.
When I protested, I was threatened with a $5,000 penalty. When I attempted to escape, I was captured, taken to a basement, physically assaulted, and cut. I still have visible scars on my left arm as evidence. Out of fear, I was forced to continue working.
I officially began working on November 5. I was told salaries would be paid on the 15th of each month. However, in December, I was told I was still on probation and would not be paid. I continued working until January.
On January 15, after roughly two months in Cambodia and at work we were suddenly informed that the police were coming and told to flee. The supervisors escaped, leaving us behind. We broke into the office to retrieve our passports, and I was fortunate to recover mine.
With no money, I remained at the compound until January 21, when Chinese men returned and forced us to leave. I managed to escape to Mondulkiri province, where I lived on the streets without food or shelter.
I later received temporary help from a fellow Ugandan, but after two weeks he left to travel back home, I was again left homeless for about a month. During this time, Ugandans in Cambodia organized efforts to seek help from authorities. An overstay waiver was granted, allowing us to leave if we could pay for our own tickets but I had no money. Then my mother had to borrow $600 to help fund my return home because the amnesty period was around the corner, so I managed to rebook the ticket for April 28, because the ticket they used to bring me here was two way so I could use it.
Now I have no money for even traveling to the airport and even have no savings to do anything upon arrival in my home country, because I spent everything I have now plus my mother’s debts.
Eventually, I was assisted with transport to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, I went to Caritas, where I slept outside their gate for four days under very difficult conditions before receiving assistance.
Hope came when a Cambodian journalist*, whose contact was shared in a WhatsApp group, listened to our story and helped us find shelter. That is where I am currently staying.
Despite having shelter, life remains extremely difficult. I have no stable income, and returning home is still a challenge because a lot of debts await me.
Returning home is also emotionally overwhelming. My family is struggling financially, and I have debts exceeding $600 that I borrowed to pay the agent fee. I will have to face these obligations upon my return.
This experience has left me with emotional and physical scars. Many others are still trapped in similar conditions. These scam operations are real, dangerous, and continue to destroy lives, especially for young people seeking better opportunities.
I humbly urge others to be cautious of job offers that seem too good to be true, especially those found on social media.
Appeal for assistance
At this moment, I have nothing. I humbly request assistance to help me rebuild my life. I kindly ask for:
- Assistance to repay loans of over $1,200.
- Support to start a small business to sustain myself and my family because my dad who was providing passed away so now am the one to support them.
- Assistance to help my younger siblings continue their education.
This situation has caused me deep emotional distress, and I currently have no clear path forward. Any support offered will make a significant difference in my life.
Conclusion
Despite everything, I remain grateful to be alive and free. I still hold onto hope that I will return home, rebuild my life, and move forward from this painful experience and with your assistance I hope will get well and recover.
Thank you very much for your consideration. May God bless you.
Telegram: @erichyper63
WhatsApp: +256705569863
Email: ericluweesi63@gmail.com
*Given the extraordinary number of foreign trafficked workers with no place to go, individual reporters for Mekong Independent have provided some donations for shelter and food to some of the trafficked victims they’ve met. This is never done in a “quid pro quo” manner in exchange for information, but rather an individual reporter’s decision to assist people outside of the context of reporting a story.