Over 3,300 Pakistanis Vanished After Traveling to Cambodia Amid Fake Job Scams

Authorities have uncovered alleged international crime and human trafficking networks that lure Pakistanis to Southeast Asia with promises of high-paying jobs before forcing them to work in illegal cyber fraud operations.

Overall, 3,313 Pakistanis who traveled to Cambodia on visit visas over the past three years have failed to return. This accounts for 13.29 percent of all Pakistani travelers to the country during the period.

The networks reportedly arrange travel to Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia on visit visas. After arriving, many victims are allegedly taken to cyber scam centers and coerced into carrying out large-scale online fraud targeting people around the world.

The findings have raised concerns over the number of Pakistanis who traveled to Cambodia but did not return. Authorities believe many of them may have fallen victim to organized criminal groups and could be working under coercion at scam centers.

Official figures show that 13,039 Pakistanis traveled to Cambodia in 2024, with 1,190 failing to return.

In 2025, 11,488 Pakistanis visited the country, while 1,933 did not return. During 2026, 395 Pakistanis traveled to Cambodia, of whom 189 have not returned so far.

Authorities have urged families to exercise extreme caution and properly verify overseas job offers, particularly those promising unusually high salaries.

Officials warned that organized trafficking networks continue to target Pakistanis through fraudulent recruitment schemes and use visit visas to transport victims to cyber scam operations across Southeast Asia.