12 Nepalis scammed in online operation in Cambodia repatriated to Nepal

Kathmandu, March 31: Altogether 12 Nepalis who fell victims to online illegal scam operations in Cambodia have been rescued and brought back to Nepal on Tuesday.     

The victims, who had traveled to Cambodia through informal channels after being lured by promises of lucrative employment, were staying there without valid visas.     

The Nepali Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand carried out the rescue and repatriation operation with support from the Cambodian government. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) in Cambodia also facilitated the rescue efforts.     

The victims were forced to work illegally operated online scamming centres and casinos and in some cases were involved in other illegal activities     

The Embassy said that efforts were underway to identify and repatriate other Nepali nationals who were stranded or facing difficult conditions in Cambodia.     

The Embassy has reported that Nepali workers in Cambodia were being exploited in online fraud scheme and other illegal works, often overstaying visas or residing without proper documentations.     

Authorities in the Embassy have noted complaints from the victims that their passport were confiscated by employers or lost during transfers between online scamming centres.     

In such cases, the Embassy has been issuing free one-way travel permits to facilitate their homecoming, informed the Embassy.     

The Nepali citizens residing illegally in Cambodia have been urged to contact the Nepali Embassy in Thailand or representatives of the NRNA in Cambodia to facilitate their return home.     

According to Cambodia's tourism data, the number of Nepalis travelling to Cambodia on visit visas has increased sharply in recent years; from 101 in 2021 to 1,977 in 2022. The number kept rising to 2,940 in 2023, six thousand 404 in 2024 and 9,676 in 2025.     

The Embassy, thus, has called on the Nepali citizens to follow official procedures, including obtaining labour permit before going abroad for employment. (RSS)