The Story of An Lam: A Case of Deceptive Recruitment and Exploitation
An Lam owed money—more than he could ever hope to repay with his low-wage job in Viet Nam. When a friend introduced him to a recruiter promising a well-paid online job in Cambodia, it seemed like a solution too good to ignore. Despite growing reports of cyber scam operations exploiting workers, despite warnings from authorities and media coverage, An Lam chose to take the risk. He was convinced this opportunity was real. He boarded the bus to Cambodia, unaware that his journey would not lead to financial freedom, but to forced labour, surveillance, and threats of violence.
Upon arrival in Cambodia, An Lam was taken to a heavily guarded compound where he was forced to work in an online scam operation. His job was to deceive victims into investing in fraudulent schemes. At first, things seemed manageable—he met his quota and even received a small payment in his first month. But soon, the pressure intensified. The company increased his targets, forcing him to work longer hours and resort to increasingly deceptive tactics to lure people into the scam.
When An Lam failed to meet the quota, the threats began. His employer warned that non-compliance would lead to punishment. He saw others electrocuted, beaten, and deprived of food and rest for failing to bring in enough money. Fear consumed him as he realized he could not leave. His passport had been confiscated, guards monitored every movement, and he had no means of escape.
One day, a police raid took place. An Lam was arrested alongside others in the operation. However, instead of being identified as a trafficking victim, he was labeled a scammer. Despite having been forced into the work, the authorities saw him as a criminal rather than someone who had been deceived and exploited.
The Misinterpretation of Voluntariness and Systemic Bias
A common belief is that people in situations like An Lam’s are motivated primarily by a desire to make money or earn more money, which often results in a lack of sympathy. If they were extremely poor, their story might be viewed differently. Those who seek to improve their income are often seen as having made a choice and, therefore, are held responsible for their decisions—even when they have been deceived and forced into exploitation. This perception weakens their recognition as victims and leaves them more vulnerable to being disregarded by legal and social systems.
From a broader ideological perspective, the misinterpretation of voluntariness is often influenced by dominant socio-political narratives. In some ideological frameworks, particularly those rooted in communist or collectivist thought, individuals are seen as responsible for their own decisions within the broader social structure. This perspective can contribute to the perception that those who willingly migrate or accept questionable job offers should bear the consequences, rather than being recognized as victims of systemic exploitation.
Marxist theory challenges this assumption by emphasizing how material conditions and socio-economic structures shape individual choices. According to Karl Marx, people’s actions are not made in isolation but are dictated by the economic forces that govern their lives. In capitalist societies, individuals often perform roles dictated by their economic functions, masking the true nature of coercion within exploitative systems. György Lukács further expands on this in his concept of “reification,” where social relations become objectified, leading individuals to perceive their constrained choices as voluntary rather than as the result of systemic oppression.
In the context of human trafficking, these philosophical insights reveal that what appears as free will is often a manifestation of deeper coercion. Individuals like An Lam may believe they are making autonomous decisions, but their economic hardships, lack of opportunities, and deceptive recruitment tactics create an environment where their so-called voluntary choices are, in reality, heavily constrained. Recognizing this distinction is crucial in shifting the legal and societal framework around victimhood, ensuring that trafficked individuals receive protection rather than punishment.
The Harm of the “Voluntary” Label
The widespread misuse of the “voluntary” label is particularly harmful, as it leads to victim-blaming, legal exclusion, and a failure to address trafficking as a systemic issue. When victims are labeled as “voluntary,” the public often assumes they knowingly entered a risky situation, making them undeserving of sympathy or legal protection. This stigma prevents many survivors from coming forward, fearing that society will dismiss their suffering as a result of their own choices.
Furthermore, many legal frameworks require victims to prove they were physically forced or coerced to qualify for protection. Those who initially migrated “willingly” may not be recognized as trafficking victims, leaving them without legal aid, reintegration support, or access to justice.
Media and the “Voluntary” Narrative
The media frequently reinforces the misleading idea that trafficking victims are “voluntary,” particularly in cases involving migrant workers, forced labour, and cross-border marriages. A striking example is the trafficking of Vietnamese men and women into Cambodia’s cyber-scam operations. Many young people, lured by fraudulent job advertisements, travel to Cambodia in search of high-paying online jobs, only to find themselves trapped in forced scam operations, unable to leave. Some are beaten for failing to meet daily scam quotas, while others are held under constant surveillance by armed guards. Despite the clear elements of coercion and forced labour, Vietnamese newspapers often report these cases as people being ‘tricked but not trafficked,’ implying that their predicament resulted from their own poor choices rather than from organized exploitation. Not just this, but many are treated as criminals, arrested, and prosecuted as scammers rather than being recognized as victims of human trafficking.
Another example is the trafficking of Vietnamese women into abusive cross-border marriages, particularly in China and South Korea. Many women, driven by economic hardship, accept marriage proposals from foreign men, believing they are securing a better future. However, upon arrival, some find themselves isolated, subjected to domestic violence, and stripped of their legal rights. Because they initially agreed to the marriage, they are often dismissed as ‘voluntary participants,’ making it difficult for them to seek help or legal protection. These cases illustrate how trafficking in Viet Nam often disguises itself as voluntary migration, reinforcing the dangerous myth that victims “chose” their circumstances.
Shifting the Narrative: From Consent to Coercion
Ultimately, human trafficking is not defined by whether a victim originally agreed to migrate or work – it is defined by exploitation, coercion, and the removal of personal freedom. The moment someone loses control over their own fate due to deception, financial manipulation, or physical threats, they are no longer acting voluntarily. This is why the media, legal systems, and policymakers must shift the way they discuss trafficking cases.
- Journalists must stop framing victims as ‘voluntary’ participants in their own exploitation.
- Governments must strengthen legal protections for those misled into dangerous situations.
- The public must become more aware of the systemic ways traffickers operate.
Changing the narrative is not just about words – it is about ensuring that victims receive the justice, support, and protection they deserve.
#human trafficking #onlinescam #forcedcriminality
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