Selangor Nanny Accepts Lucrative Job Offer Only to Narrowly Avoid Human Trafficking Syndicate

As reported by Bernama, a woman from Selangor narrowly avoided this fate after a couple claiming to be diplomats offered her RM2,000 for four days of nanny service.

The 41-year-old woman, who goes by the name Huda, shared during a press conference held at the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation that the couple contacted her in early October through WhatsApp. The organisation was established with the sole purpose of helping Malaysians, refugees, and foreigners.

The couple said they first came across her Facebook advertisement promoting her services and claimed to be working at a foreign embassy in Bangkok.

Huda said, “The couple made a video call to enquire about the services. They offered a substantial salary for four days of service and a flight ticket to Bangkok.”

She continued, “I was told that a driver would be waiting for me at the airport to take me to meet them.” On 13 October, she flew to the capital of Thailand. She met a man in uniform at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport who was to take her to a travel agency.

Thankfully, Huda was alert and became suspicious when she wasn’t allowed to exchange currencies or her telephone SIM card and was told to follow the driver’s instructions.

However, she still followed the driver and entered the car. “During the drive, I noticed via Google Maps that the driver had changed direction and was driving towards Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand, bordering Myanmar, six hours from Bangkok.” Myanmar is notoriously known as a source and destination for human trafficking, which is a major and complex societal issue in the country.

Trembling at the thought, she said, “When we reached the checkpoint, I was told to hand in my passport to be stamped but I refused…and informed the policemen manning the area.”

Huda said that the policemen questioned the driver, who denied involvement and was unfortunately released. She was also given a bus ticket to return to Bangkok. She then took a train to Malaysia via Padang Besar and arrived in Kuala Lumpur on 15 October, two days later.

Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, the president of the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation, urged the public to be wary of syndicates offering high salaries in neighbouring countries as human trafficking syndicates have become increasingly manipulative to trap victims.