Caught in Cambodia’s Scam Machine: Part 1

About this episode

Who are the workers behind the global scam industry? <br/><br/>In Cambodia, more than 200,000 scam workers have been released from fortified compounds, where many of them had been trafficked, held against their will, and forced to work for little pay. The Cambodian government’s recent crackdown has enabled reporters to get a closer look at an industry responsible for defrauding Americans of at least 20 billion dollars in 2025.<br/><br/>But how did these workers end up in Cambodia, and what was the promise that drew them there? In this two-part series for <em>The Sunday Story</em>, investigative reporter Shibani Mahtani dives into the previously hidden world of the global scam industry. And she follows the story of one Ugandan man, who traveled far from home for a job that was “too good to be true.” <br/><br/>Listen to Part 2 <a href="http://npr.org/2026/06/21/nx-s1-5862711/cyber-scam-workers-victims-cambodia-humanitarian-crisis"target="_blank" >here</a>.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>