Short answer
Very often, yes. Offers of easy work abroad with high pay, free flights and no experience needed are used to lure people into scam compounds in neighbouring countries. Once there, people may have their passports taken and be forced to scam others online, and families are sometimes asked for money to get them back.
Before accepting any job abroad, check the company and the contract through official channels, and never travel on the word of an online recruiter alone.
How to check an overseas job
- Ask for the company's full name, address and a written contract, then check them yourself.
- Only use licensed labour export companies, and check the licence through the official authorities.
- Be wary if you are told to enter the other country on a tourist visa "for now".
- Tell your family exactly where you are going, with the address and contact details.
- Keep copies of your passport and ID, and never hand the originals to a recruiter.
- If a friend or relative is already trapped, contact the police and Vietnam's embassy in that country as soon as you can.
Warning signs
- The pay is far above normal for the work, with no skills or language needed.
- The recruiter found you on social media or a chat app and only talks there.
- The job is vague: "customer service", "online sales", "typing" or "casino work".
- They pay for your travel and arrange a private car across the border.
- They tell you to keep it secret or not tell your family the details.
- They rush you to leave within days.
What happens inside
Reports describe people being made to run fake romance and investment chats, often with AI tools and scripts, for long hours under threat. Leaving can be hard because passports are held and "debts" are invented, so the time to check a job is before you leave.
If you are asked for ransom
If someone says your relative owes money and must pay to be released, contact the police on 113 and the embassy before paying. Keep every message, number and account. Be careful too: some "ransom" demands are themselves scams from people who never held your relative.
Talk openly with young people in the family about these offers. A quick check with someone they trust can stop a trip that looks like a lucky break.
Common questions
My friend says the job is real and he earns a lot. Is it safe?
Be careful. People inside compounds are sometimes forced to recruit friends. Check the company independently before going.
How can I tell if a labour export company is legal?
Ask for its licence and check it with the official labour authorities. Legal companies give you a written contract and don't ask you to travel on a tourist visa.
Who can help if someone is already trapped?
Contact the police on 113 or your local station, and Vietnam's embassy in that country. Give them the location, photos and messages you have.
Reviewed October 2026