Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok on Wednesday, November 16 warned job seekers against getting duped into fake opportunities in Myanmar, Southeast Asia.
The warning came after the Embassy noticed desperate Kenyans were still traveling to Myanmar despite previous alerts on the risks associated with the jobs.
Authorities further cautioned Kenyans to stop working with suspicious recruiting agents who have been advertising the said jobs.
“Many of the agents, wanted by the police are still advertising sales and customer care jobs purported to be in Thailand with impunity, well aware that there are no such jobs,” stated the Embassy.
Officials further warned that Kenyans rushing for the said jobs risk losing their lives due to the hostile nature of the some bosses they find abroad.
The jobs in question are cybercrime related and upon Kenyans' arrival they are given targets, which must be met. Reports state that those who do not deliver face dire consequences, including whipping, being locked up and going for days without food.
“The Kenyans and many other Africans working in the forced labour camps run the great risk of losing their body organs and lives. Already one young Kenyan has died as a result of a botched operation by quack doctors operating in the Chinese-run factories in Myanmar,” explained the Embassy.
The Embassy stated that the main challenge they have been facing is the fact that even after explaining the risks highlighted, some Kenyans opt to remain Myanmar and Lao PDR.
Appearing on Citizen TV anonymously on Sunday, November 6, two survivors recounted how they were sold off to a cybercrime ring in Thailand which demanded Ksh1.2 million to secure their release.
They later traveled to a different country where they were to start their new jobs. Upon arrival, they were tasked with tracking travelling women online and create their accounts on dating sites.
According to the two women, they would then approach Americans and lure them to send cryptocurrency under the pretext of love.
According to the Embassy, most of the victims were Kenyans from low-income families who had to make sacrifices, including selling land to foot travel costs.
