An office manager in a Northern Laos scam compound sent a motivational WhatsApp message to his subordinates on a night shift, but the reality behind the words was a brutal system of forced labor and fraud. A whistleblower inside the Boshang compound leaked months of internal chats, revealing how workers were coerced into scamming victims while facing fines, beatings, and debt bondage. The documents expose a corporate façade that masks a modern slavery operation draining millions from unsuspecting customers.
At a Glance
- $2.2 million stolen in 11 weeks
- 30 workers scammed at least one victim
- $5,400 debt to be paid for passport return
- $3,500 monthly base salary (≈$500)
Inside the Boshang Compound
The Boshang compound sits in the Golden Triangle special economic zone in Northern Laos, a region dominated by Chinese business interests and a hub for various illicit activities. Workers, many of whom are forced laborers without passports, are trapped in debt bondage and expected to operate romance-and-crypto scams that target mainly Indian-American men. The operation is one of dozens across Southeast Asia that have enslaved hundreds of thousands of people.
The Motivational Rhetoric
Just before 8 am on a day in April, Amani, an office manager, posted a 500-word message to the company WhatsApp group: “Every day brings a new opportunity-a chance to connect, to inspire, and to make a difference… Talk to that next customer like you’re bringing them something valuable-because you are.” The tone was upbeat, yet the workers were already under strict surveillance and fined for every misstep.
Daily Life and Punishment
The compound’s schedule was nocturnal to match the waking hours of victims in the U.S. Workers started at 11:30 pm Beijing time, took two breaks, and were expected to return to dorms by 5 pm. Failure to start a “first chat” triggered a 50 yuan fine, while a false progress report cost 1,000 yuan. Sleeping in the office or being late could incur 200-500 yuan fines, and refusing to sign a misconduct form doubled the penalty.
| Fine Type | Amount (yuan) | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| First chat missed | 50 | Public announcement |
| False report | 1,000 | Public announcement |
| Late to dorm | 200-500 | Public announcement |
| Refusal to sign | Double | Public announcement |
The workers’ $500 monthly salary was almost entirely eroded by these fines. Food in the cafeteria was denied as punishment, and ID badges that granted canteen access could be revoked for seven days over small infractions. Time off was withheld, and some were forced to work seven nights a week.
The Hidden Reality
While the chats projected a corporate culture, they also hinted at violence. Amani threatened a worker with beating and electrocution if he failed to find new “clients.” A worker named Mohammad Muzahir, who later escaped, described being beaten, slapped, and forced to drink a white-powder solution intended to make him more compliant. Reports of a girl being sold into prostitution and of workers being threatened with death underscored the brutality.
The Leak
In June, Muzahir, still captive, contacted News Of Fort Worth as “Red Bull” and shared a trove of documents: internal WhatsApp chats, training guides, operational flowcharts, and 4,200 pages of screenshots. The chats spanned 11 weeks and involved more than 30 workers who scammed at least one victim, totaling $2.2 million in stolen funds. The logs also revealed a carrot-and-stick approach: praise for successful scams and fines for underperformance.
How the Scams Work
The leaked scripts outline a typical romance-and-crypto scam. Workers are trained to:
- Mention “scams” openly to inoculate themselves against suspicion.
- Pretend to be converting money to cryptocurrency, citing bank resistance.
- Encourage victims to ignore anti-fraud warnings from banks or law enforcement.
- Use deepfake AI software to video-chat with victims, swapping faces with a female model named Sana.
One script reads: “When we meet, it will not be awkward but rather we will look forward to it… We are strengthening our relationship every day. You have also seen my photos. When we meet, can you recognize me?”.
AI tools such as ChatGPT, Deepseek, and Deepfake software are central to the deception. A dedicated “AI room” hosts a female model who conducts face-swapped calls on demand. Scheduling messages in the group warn that the model may be “busy” or “free” to avoid crowding.
Relocation and Broader Context
The compound moved from Laos to Cambodia in November. The town of Chrey Thom in Cambodia has become a growing hotspot for scam operations, possibly driven by police raids that were often described as performative crackdowns. In Cambodia, even the family of the prime minister is linked to conglomerates that oversee subsidiaries with ties to the scam industry, creating a hospitable environment for the operation.
Key Takeaways
- A motivational message can mask a forced-labor scam operation draining millions.
- Internal fines erode workers’ modest salaries, creating a debt cycle.
- Violence, threats, and deepfake AI are integral to the scams.
- The operation relocated to Cambodia following superficial police crackdowns.
- Modern slavery continues under a thin corporate façade.
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Additional reporting by Sophia Takla, Maddy Varner, and Zeyi Yang.
