Twelve Nepalis Rescued from Online Scam Centers and Casinos in Cambodia

Twelve Nepalis who were lured by various temptations to Cambodia and subsequently trapped in online scamming centers and casinos have been rescued.

 They were repatriated to their home country through the initiative of the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok, with the cooperation of the Cambodian government and facilitation by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Cambodia.

According to a press release issued by the Embassy on Monday, these individuals were taken to Cambodia under the lure of human traffickers and were subsequently employed in illegally operating online scamming centers, casinos, and other illicit activities.

 These Nepalis, who were staying without a visa (overstay), flew from Cambodia on Chaitra 16 and landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Monday. The Embassy stated that efforts are underway to rescue other Nepalis who have been stranded.

According to the Embassy, information has been received that many Nepalis are still being forced into illegal work in Cambodia and are stranded due to expired visas. 

The Embassy noted widespread complaints that the scamming centers confiscate the passports of Nepali workers or that passports go missing during transfers.

In such situations, the Embassy has arranged to issue a 'One-Way Travel Document' (Travel Document) free of charge to Nepalis wishing to return home. 

Recent statistics show an unusually high increase in the number of Nepalis traveling to Cambodia on tourist (visit) visas. According to Cambodia's tourism statistics, while only 101 Nepalis reached there in 2021, the numbers for subsequent years are: 1,977 in 2022, 2,940 in 2023, 6,404 in 2024, and 9,676 in 2025.

Most Nepalis who go under the guise of tourism fall prey to illegal employment and fraud syndicates. The Embassy has urged Nepalis not to go for employment on tourist visas to countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, lured by the temptation of earning quick and large sums of money.