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Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Job scams are on the rise and more people are falling for them. Protect yourself with these tips
NEW YORK (AP) — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to build trust with the victim before cashing in on the relationship. 'Most of the people who end up losing money to a scammer are behaving pretty rationally,' said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's division of marketing practices. 'Scammers are sophisticated, and they keep changing their tactics.' Reported losses to job scams increased more than threefold from 2020 to 2023. In the first half of 2024, they topped $220 million, according to the FTC. Gamified job scams, or task scams, represented a significant portion of that growth. About 20,000 people reported experiencing gamified scams in the first part of 2024, compared to 5,000 in all of 2023. Daffan said that that the number is certainly an underestimate, because many people don't report their experiences of job scams to law enforcement or government trackers. 'Only 4.8% of people complain,' she said. Here's what to know: How the scams work The scam typically begins with an unexpected text or WhatsApp message from a 'recruiter' offering online work, according to the FTC. The mystery texter will say you can 'make good money' by 'product boosting' or doing 'optimization tasks' for an online platform or in an app, which might involve liking videos or rating product images. This 'job' promises to earn you money from 'commissions' per click. Once you complete the tasks, you'll see an increasing tally of 'earnings' on the platform or in the app. These earnings are fake. Eventually, the app or platform will ask you to deposit your own money, typically in crypto, to complete more tasks and withdraw your (non-existent) earnings. But if you do make the deposit, you lose your real money, and you never receive the illusory pay. Who gets targeted Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said these types of scammers typically prey on job-seekers who are new to the job market, people who have been out of the job market for some time (such as homemakers re-entering the workforce, whose children are grown), and immigrants, who may be less familiar with the employment landscape or who face language barriers. 'Often the job will have an easy interview or no interview, promise to let you work from home, and let you start right away,' Velasquez said. 'Sometimes they'll start with praise, and the person will feel their skills are recognized. 'Oh, you think I'm great? Tell me more.'' Velasquez emphasized the vulnerability of people looking for work, especially given ongoing economic uncertainty, who may choose to accept a role even if it initially feels shady. 'Sometimes the ask is to leave phony reviews for products,' she said. 'The scammers are probably selling those reviews illegally, but a job-seeker might look at a line and say, 'I'll cross that line. I've got to eat.'' Tips for spotting a task-based scam — Ignore any generic and unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages about jobs, no matter how specific or complimentary the messages. — Never pay to get paid, or to get a job. That requirement is a red flag that the position is a scam. — Don't trust employers who says they'll pay you to rate or like things online, without an above-board process for using the actual products or services you're rating. ___ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Beware of scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks
NEW YORK — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment , an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to build trust with the victim before cashing in on the relationship. 'Most of the people who end up losing money to a scammer are behaving pretty rationally,' said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's division of marketing practices. 'Scammers are sophisticated, and they keep changing their tactics.' Reported losses to job scams increased more than threefold from 2020 to 2023. In the first half of 2024, they topped $220 million, according to the FTC. Gamified job scams, or task scams, represented a significant portion of that growth. About 20,000 people reported experiencing gamified scams in the first part of 2024, compared to 5,000 in all of 2023. Daffan said that that the number is certainly an underestimate, because many people don't report their experiences of job scams to law enforcement or government trackers. 'Only 4.8% of people complain,' she said. Here's what to know: The scam typically begins with an unexpected text or WhatsApp message from a 'recruiter' offering online work, according to the FTC. The mystery texter will say you can 'make good money' by 'product boosting' or doing 'optimization tasks' for an online platform or in an app, which might involve liking videos or rating product images. This 'job' promises to earn you money from 'commissions' per click. Once you complete the tasks, you'll see an increasing tally of 'earnings' on the platform or in the app. These earnings are fake. Eventually, the app or platform will ask you to deposit your own money, typically in crypto, to complete more tasks and withdraw your (non-existent) earnings. But if you do make the deposit, you lose your real money, and you never receive the illusory pay. Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said these types of scammers typically prey on job-seekers who are new to the job market, people who have been out of the job market for some time (such as homemakers re-entering the workforce, whose children are grown), and immigrants, who may be less familiar with the employment landscape or who face language barriers. 'Often the job will have an easy interview or no interview, promise to let you work from home, and let you start right away,' Velasquez said. 'Sometimes they'll start with praise, and the person will feel their skills are recognized. 'Oh, you think I'm great? Tell me more.'' Velasquez emphasized the vulnerability of people looking for work, especially given ongoing economic uncertainty, who may choose to accept a role even if it initially feels shady. 'Sometimes the ask is to leave phony reviews for products,' she said. 'The scammers are probably selling those reviews illegally, but a job-seeker might look at a line and say, 'I'll cross that line. I've got to eat.'' — Ignore any generic and unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages about jobs, no matter how specific or complimentary the messages. — Never pay to get paid, or to get a job. That requirement is a red flag that the position is a scam. — Don't trust employers who says they'll pay you to rate or like things online, without an above-board process for using the actual products or services you're rating. ___ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Beware of scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks
NEW YORK (AP) — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to build trust with the victim before cashing in on the relationship. 'Most of the people who end up losing money to a scammer are behaving pretty rationally,' said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's division of marketing practices. 'Scammers are sophisticated, and they keep changing their tactics.' Reported losses to job scams increased more than threefold from 2020 to 2023. In the first half of 2024, they topped $220 million, according to the FTC. Gamified job scams, or task scams, represented a significant portion of that growth. About 20,000 people reported experiencing gamified scams in the first part of 2024, compared to 5,000 in all of 2023. Daffan said that that the number is certainly an underestimate, because many people don't report their experiences of job scams to law enforcement or government trackers. 'Only 4.8% of people complain,' she said. Here's what to know: How the scams work The scam typically begins with an unexpected text or WhatsApp message from a 'recruiter' offering online work, according to the FTC. The mystery texter will say you can 'make good money' by 'product boosting' or doing 'optimization tasks' for an online platform or in an app, which might involve liking videos or rating product images. This 'job' promises to earn you money from 'commissions' per click. Once you complete the tasks, you'll see an increasing tally of 'earnings' on the platform or in the app. These earnings are fake. Eventually, the app or platform will ask you to deposit your own money, typically in crypto, to complete more tasks and withdraw your (non-existent) earnings. But if you do make the deposit, you lose your real money, and you never receive the illusory pay. Who gets targeted Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said these types of scammers typically prey on job-seekers who are new to the job market, people who have been out of the job market for some time (such as homemakers re-entering the workforce, whose children are grown), and immigrants, who may be less familiar with the employment landscape or who face language barriers. 'Often the job will have an easy interview or no interview, promise to let you work from home, and let you start right away,' Velasquez said. 'Sometimes they'll start with praise, and the person will feel their skills are recognized. 'Oh, you think I'm great? Tell me more.'' Velasquez emphasized the vulnerability of people looking for work, especially given ongoing economic uncertainty, who may choose to accept a role even if it initially feels shady. 'Sometimes the ask is to leave phony reviews for products,' she said. 'The scammers are probably selling those reviews illegally, but a job-seeker might look at a line and say, 'I'll cross that line. I've got to eat.'' Tips for spotting a task-based scam — Ignore any generic and unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages about jobs, no matter how specific or complimentary the messages. — Never pay to get paid, or to get a job. That requirement is a red flag that the position is a scam. — Don't trust employers who says they'll pay you to rate or like things online, without an above-board process for using the actual products or services you're rating. ___ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
15 Best Job Search Sites From Top Job Boards To Niche Players
The best job search sites can be hard to identify with countless job boards available online. getty The recent bankruptcy filings of Monster and CareerBuilder highlight just how quickly the job board industry is changing. With established brands disappearing from the digital recruiting landscape, selecting the best job search sites has never been more crucial. To be a successful job seeker, don't rely solely on one site. Instead, combine mega job boards with specialized and emerging platforms to maximize your reach. That's why I've compiled this list of the 15 best job search sites—to accelerate and simplify your job search. These platforms cast the widest net, offering millions of job listings across every industry and experience level. LinkedIn Jobs is the hiring engine of the world's largest professional networking platform. By leveraging your profile and connections, you can apply with a single click and gain insights into company culture, referrals and recruiter activity. Who it's best for: Professionals in any industry seeking broad exposure and networking opportunities. Cost: Free to job seekers with optional LinkedIn Premium for added insights. Pros: Unmatched recruiter access, valuable network connections, robust company research tools and AI résumé help. Cons: High competition, some jobs are duplicated from other boards and Premium features require a subscription. Indeed is one of the world's largest job search engines, aggregating millions of job openings from employer sites, job boards and recruiters. Its intuitive interface makes it simple to search, filter and apply, with many employers offering quick-apply options right on the platform. Who it's best for: Anyone seeking a wide range of jobs across industries and levels. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Massive job inventory, easy alerts, user-friendly interface and free résumé uploads. Cons: Many job postings are duplicates or outdated, sorting can be overwhelming, and there are limited filtering options for specialized roles. 3. ZipRecruiter ZipRecruiter uses AI to connect job seekers to thousands of employers and partner boards, delivering personalized job matches and real-time application feedback. Its "one-click apply," and Match Score system help streamline the process for busy applicants. Who it's best for: Anyone who values time-saving features and tailored job matches. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: AI-powered job matching, one-click application submission and notifications when your application is viewed. Cons: Some roles redirect to external sites, and there are occasional off-target matches. 4. Glassdoor Glassdoor is unique in pairing job listings with employee-driven company reviews, salary ranges and interview tips. Job seekers can evaluate company culture and compensation before applying, all within a single platform. Who it's best for: Candidates who care about company culture, pay transparency and employee feedback. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Extensive reviews and salary data, insider interview information and easy-to-use search. Cons: Not all jobs are listed directly, some reviews are outdated or vague and you must create a profile to view all content. Remote-First Job Boards These remote-focused platforms are among the best job search sites for flexible work arrangements. 5. FlexJobs FlexJobs is a membership-based site that specializes in remote, hybrid and flexible jobs, thoroughly vetted for legitimacy. Each listing is hand-screened to weed out scams and low-quality opportunities, providing peace of mind for remote job seekers. Who it's best for: Professionals seeking remote or flexible work or concerned about job listing scams. Cost: Paid membership for full access. Pros: 100% vetted listings, remote/hybrid focus and career resources and events. Cons: Monthly fee and some listings may appear for free on other sites. 6. We Work Remotely (WWR) We Work Remotely (WWR) is the largest job board dedicated exclusively to remote work. The platform covers tech, design, marketing and customer support, allowing you to browse listings or set up job alerts based on your skills and preferences. Who it's best for: Remote job seekers in tech, design and related digital fields. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: High volume of remote jobs, long track record, strong community, straightforward navigation and jobs from respected companies. Cons: Limited search filters with most roles requiring U.S. hours and less focus on non-technology roles. 7. focuses exclusively on remote jobs across multiple industries, including customer service, marketing and beyond. The site features a clean, easy-to-browse interface and is backed by the same team as FlexJobs. Who it's best for: Anyone searching for legitimate remote jobs in diverse fields. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Curated, 100% remote opportunities, covers a wide variety of roles and has remote work resources. Cons: A smaller number of jobs compared to mega-boards and fewer advanced search filters. 8. RemoteOK RemoteOK is a global aggregator that brings together remote jobs from all corners of the web, with a special emphasis on tech and digital roles. Its minimalist interface and real-time stats make it a favorite among digital nomads. Who it's best for: Digital nomads, tech professionals and anyone wanting worldwide options. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Huge selection of global tech roles, salary and remote policy filters and real-time application stats. Cons: Tech-heavy listings, can include duplicate or short-term contract roles and less variety in non-tech jobs. Technology And Startup Job Platforms These specialized platforms connect ambitious professionals with high-growth companies and innovative startups. 9. Wellfound Wellfound is the go-to platform for startup and early-stage company roles. With upfront salary and equity info, direct founder contact and a single profile for multiple applications, Wellfound streamlines the job search for startup-minded candidates. Who it's best for: Startup enthusiasts and tech talent seeking equity or growth opportunities. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Transparent salary and equity, founder access and a robust startup database. Cons: Limited to startup roles and fewer jobs in traditional industries or larger companies. 10. Dice Dice is a tech-industry mainstay, connecting IT, software and engineering pros with employers ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. It features advanced skills filtering, salary estimates and even AI-driven job matching for technical roles. Who it's best for: IT, software and engineering professionals seeking U.S.-based roles. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Deep tech focus, detailed job filters and trusted by major tech employers. Cons: Less suitable for non-tech jobs, and some listings may be outdated. 11. Built In Built In is a hub for tech and startup jobs in major U.S. cities, blending curated job listings with industry news and company spotlights. It's designed to help candidates get to know company cultures and community life before applying. Who it's best for: Tech professionals and startup talent in U.S. metro areas. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Curated, city-specific listings, deep company profiles and community news. Cons: U.S.-centric and primarily focused on tech and digital roles. 12. YC Work at a Startup YC Work at a Startup is Y Combinator's talent portal, connecting job seekers with open positions at hundreds of YC-backed startups. With a single profile, you can apply to multiple companies and even be proactively contacted by startup founders. Who it's best for: Engineers, builders and anyone interested in working at high-growth startups. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Single profile for all applications, direct connections with founders and early access to new startup roles. Cons: Startup-only focus, most roles are technical and can be highly competitive. Emerging Job Sites These innovative platforms represent the next generation of job search technology, leveraging AI and automation to streamline applications while addressing specific pain points in the traditional hiring process. 13. Simplify Simplify is a job-hunting tool and Chrome extension that helps users apply for jobs faster by automatically filling out application forms and tracking submissions. It's beneficial for high-volume applicants, like recent graduates, and features AI résumé tailoring for popular job portals. Who it's best for: Students, new grads or anyone sending many job applications. Cost: Free Chrome extension with a premium option for additional features. Pros: Saves time on repetitive forms, tracks all applications and has AI résumé tools. Cons: Auto-apply may send generic applications, and the extension only works with specific portals. 14. Massive Massive is an AI-powered job platform designed for candidates who want to automate their job search at scale. Its bulk application system, built-in résumé tools and networking features help users reach more employers with less manual effort. Who it's best for: Ambitious job seekers wanting to automate and accelerate their search. Cost: A free tier is available for limited usage, with paid plans offered for high-volume applications. Pros: Bulk applications, AI matching, integrated tracking and résumé tools. Cons: Less customization per application, and employers may notice a bulk approach. 15. Bandana Bandana is a new job platform focused on helping hourly, frontline and working-class job seekers find better jobs close to home. Using a map-based interface, Bandana offers ultra-transparent details on pay, benefits and schedules for every listing. Who it's best for: Hourly and frontline workers seeking local, benefit-rich jobs. Cost: Free to job seekers. Pros: Map-based job search, transparent pay and benefits and targeted to working-class needs. Cons: Limited to select regions and industries and is still growing its employer network. Take Control Of Your Job Hunt With the right mix of traditional job boards and emerging tools, you can boost your visibility, streamline your job hunt and connect with employers faster. Whether you're just starting out, switching careers or looking for your next role, the best job search sites provide innovative ways to take control of your career journey. So, dive in, experiment and remember that the right opportunity is often just a click away.
Al Jazeera
31-05-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
How two Africans became trapped in a cyber-scam operation in Laos
Bokeo province, Laos – Khobby was living in Dubai last year when he received an intriguing message about a well-paying job working online in a far-flung corner of Southeast Asia. The salary was good, he was told. He would be working on computers in an office. The company would even foot the bill for his relocation to join the firm in Laos – a country of 7.6 million people nestled between China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. With the company paying for his flights, Khobby decided to take the plunge. But his landing in Laos was anything but smooth. Khobby discovered that the promised dream job was rapidly becoming a nightmare when his Ghanaian passport was taken on arrival by his new employers. With his passport confiscated and threats of physical harm ever present, he endured months working inside a compound which he could not leave. The 21-year-old had become the latest victim of booming online cyber-scam operations in Southeast Asia – an industry that is believed to have enslaved tens of thousands of workers lured with the promise of decently paid jobs in online sales and the information technology industry. 'When I got there, I saw a lot of Africans in the office, with a lot of phones,' Khobby told Al Jazeera, recounting his arrival in Laos. 'Each person had 10 phones, 15 phones. That was when I realised this was a scamming job,' he said. The operation Khobby found himself working for was in a remote area in northwest Laos, where a casino city has been carved out of a patch of jungle in the infamous 'Golden Triangle' region – the lawless border zone between Myanmar, Laos and Thailand that has long been a centre for global drug production and trafficking. He said he was forced to work long days and sleep in a dormitory with five other African workers at night during the months he spent at the scam centre in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone. Khobby recounted the original message he received from an acquaintance encouraging him to take the job in Laos. 'My company is hiring new staff', he said, adding that he was told the salary was $1,200 per month. 'He told me it was data entry.' The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) where Khobby was lured to for work operates as an autonomous territory within Laos. Leased from Laotian authorities by Chinese national Zhao Wei, whom the US government has designated the leader of a transnational criminal organisation, life in the GTSEZ is monitored by a myriad of security cameras and protected by its own private security force. Clocks are set to Beijing time. Signage is predominantly in Chinese, and China's yuan is the dominant and preferred currency. Central to the GTSEZ city-state is Zhao Wei's Kings Romans casino, which the United States Treasury also described as a hub for criminal activity such as money laundering, narcotics and wildlife trafficking. During a recent visit to the zone by Al Jazeera, Rolls Royce limousines ferried gamblers to some of the city's casinos while workers toiled on the construction of an elaborate and expansive Venice-style waterway just a stone's throw from the Mekong river. While luxury construction projects – including the recently completed Bokeo International Airport – speak to the vast amounts of money flowing through this mini casino city, it is inside the grey, nondescript tower blocks dotted around the economic zone where the lucrative online scam trade occurs. Within these tower blocks, thousands of trafficked workers from all over the world – just like Khobby – are reported to spend up to 17 hours a day working online to dupe unsuspecting 'clients' into parting with their money. The online swindles are as varied as investing money in fake business portfolios to paying false tax bills that appear very real and from trading phoney cryptocurrency to being caught in online romance traps. Anti-trafficking experts say most of the workers are deceived into leaving their home countries – such are nearby China, Thailand and Indonesia or as far away as Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Ethiopia – with the promise of decent salaries. Khobby told how his 'data entry' job was, in fact, a scam known in the cybercrime underworld as 'pig butchering'. This is where victims are identified, cold-called or messaged directly by phone in a bid to establish a relationship. Trust is built up over time to the point where an initial investment is made by the intended victim. This can be, at first, a small amount of the victim's money or emotions in the case of fake online relationships. There are small rewards on the investments, Khobby explained, telling how those in the industry refer to their victims as pigs who are being 'fattened' by trust built up with the scammers. That fattening continues until a substantial monetary investment is made in whatever scam the victim has become part of. Then they are swiftly 'butchered', which is when the scammers get away with the ill-gotten gains taken from their victims. Once the butchering is done, all communications are cut with the victims and the scammers disappear without leaving a digital trace. According to experts, cyber-scamming inside the GTSEZ boomed during the 2019 and 2020 COVID lockdowns when restrictions on travel meant international visitors could not access the Kings Romans casino. In the years since, the cyber-scam industry has burgeoned, physically transcended borders to become one of the dominant profit-making illicit activities in the region, not only in the GTSEZ in Laos but also in neighbouring Cambodia and in conflict-ridden Myanmar. Though not as elaborate as the GTSEZ, purpose-built cyber-scam 'compounds' have proliferated in Myanmar's border areas with Thailand. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that cyber-scamming in Southeast Asia generates tens of billions annually, while the United States Institute of Peace equates the threat to that of the destructive fentanyl trade. 'Cyber-scam operations have significantly benefitted from developments in the fintech industry, including cryptocurrencies, with apps being directly developed for use at [cyber-scam] compounds to launder money,' said Kristina Amerhauser, of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. 'Victims and perpetrators are spread across different countries, money is laundered offshore, operations are global,' Amerhauser told Al Jazeera, explaining that the sophisticated technology used in cyber-scamming, along with its international reach, has made it extremely difficult to combat. About 260 trafficked scam-centre workers were recently rescued in a cross-border operation between Thailand and Myanmar. Yet, even in rare instances such as this when trafficked workers are freed, they still face complications due to their visa status and their own potential complicity in criminal activity. Khobby – who is now back in Dubai – told Al Jazeera that while he was coerced into working in the GTSEZ, he did actually receive the promised $1,200 monthly salary, and he had even signed a six-month 'contract' with the Chinese bosses who ran the operation. Richard Horsey, International Crisis Group's senior adviser on Myanmar, said Khobby's experience reflected a changing trend in recruitment by the criminal organisations running the scam centres. 'Some of the more sophisticated gangs are getting out of the human trafficking game and starting to trick workers to come,' Horsey said. 'People don't like to answer an advert for criminal scamming, and it's hard to advertise that. But once they're there, it's like – actually, we will pay you. We may have taken your passport, but there is a route to quite a lucrative opportunity here and we will give you a small part of that,' he said. The issue of salaries paid to coerced and enslaved workers complicates efforts to repatriate trafficking victims, who may be considered complicit criminals due to their status as 'paid' workers in the scam centres, said Eric Heintz, from the US-based anti-trafficking organisation International Justice Mission (IJM). 'We know of individuals being paid for the first few months they were inside, but then it tapers off to the point where they are making little – if any – money,' Heintz said, describing how victims become 'trapped in this cycle of abuse unable to leave the compound'. 'This specific aspect was a challenge early on with the victim identity process – when an official would ask if an individual previously in the scam compound was paid, the victim would answer that initially he or she was. That was enough for some officials to not identify them as victims,' Heintz said. Some workers have also been sold between criminal organisations and moved across borders to other scam centres, he said. 'We have heard of people being moved from a compound in one country to one in another – for example from Myawaddy to the GTSEZ or Cambodia and vice versa,' he said. Khobby said many of the workers in his 'office' had already had experience with scamming in other compounds and in other countries. 'Most of them had experience. They knew the job already,' he said. 'This job is going on in a lot of places – Thailand, Laos, Myanmar. They were OK because they got paid. They had experience and they knew what they were doing,' he added. High-school graduate Jojo said she was working as a maid in Kampala, Uganda, when she received a message on the Telegram messaging app about an opportunity in Asia that involved being sponsored to do computer studies as part of a job in IT. 'I was so excited,' Jojo recounted, 'I told my mum about the offer.' Jojo told how she was sent an airline ticket, and described how multiple people met her along the way as she journeyed from Kampala to Laos. Eventually Jojo arrived in the same scam operation as Khobby. She described an atmosphere similar to a fast-paced sales centre, with Chinese bosses shouting encouragement when a victim had been 'butchered' and their money stolen, telling how she witnessed people scammed for as much as $200,000. 'They would shout a lot, in Chinese – 'What are we here for? Money!'' On top of adrenaline, the scam operation also ran on fear, Jojo said. Workers were beaten if they did not meet targets for swindling money. Mostly locked inside the building where she worked and lived; Jojo said she was only able to leave the scam operation once in the four months she was in the GTSEZ, and that was to attend a local hospital after falling ill. Fear of the Chinese bosses who ran the operation not only permeated their workstations but in the dormitory where they slept. 'They told us 'Whatever happens in the room, we are listening',' she said, also telling how her co-workers were beaten when they failed to meet targets. 'They stopped them from working. They stopped them from coming to get food. They were not getting results. They were not bringing in the money they wanted. So they saw them as useless,' she said. 'They were torturing them every day.' Khobby and Jojo said they were moved to act in case it was their turn next. When they organised a strike to demand better treatment, their bosses brought in Laotian police and several of the strikers – including Jojo and Khobby – were taken to a police station where they were told they were sacked. They were also told they would not be paid what was owed in wages and their overseers refused to give their passports back. Khobby said he was left stranded without a passport and the police refused to help. 'This is not about only the Chinese people,' Khobby said. 'Even in Vientiane, they have immigration offices who are involved. They are the ones giving the visas. When I got to Laos, it was the immigration officer who was waiting for me. I didn't even fill out any form,' he said. With help from the Ghanaian embassy, Khobby and Jojo were eventually able to retrieve their passports, and with assistance from family and friends, they returned home. The IJM's Heintz, said that target countries for scammer recruitment – such as those in Africa – need better awareness of the dangers of trafficking. 'There needs to be better awareness at the source country level of the dangers associated with these jobs,' he said. Reflecting on what led him to work up the courage to lead a strike in the scam centre, Khobby considered his childhood back in Ghana. 'I was a boy who was raised in a police station. My grandpa was a police commander. So in that aspect, I'm very bold, I have that courage. I like giving things a try and I like taking risks,' he said. Jojo told Al Jazeera how she continues to chat online with friends who are still trapped in scam centres in Laos, and who have told her that new recruits arrive each day in the GTSEZ. Her friends want to get out of the scam business and the economic zone in Laos. But it is not so easy to leave, Jojo said. 'They don't have their passports,' she said.
