“I want to tackle human trafficking.” - Ridwan's story
30-year-old Ridwan was working in IT in Qatar when the pandemic hit. Like many people around the world, he lost his job and was forced to return home.
Ridwan struggled to find work until finally, early last year, he saw a job advertisement on social media. The ad offered a job as a game administrator in the Philippines.
With a degree in IT and experience working abroad, Ridwan was confident that this job was a good fit.
“I thought it was a normal administrative job,” Ridwan said regretfully. “I trusted the agent who contacted me after I applied for the job.”
Ridwan travelled to the Philippines in March 2023 to begin his new role. He and two other workers were picked up from the airport.
“The person directed us to a van that took us to a building complex not far from the airport,” Ridwan remembers.
But when they arrived at their new workplace, Ridwan was startled to see many armed guards surrounding the compound. His concern grew when his passport was taken and he was forced to sign a contract without having time to read it.
What is forced scamming and how does IJM work to stop it?
“I saw 100 to 200 Indonesians and noticed people of other nationalities. I tried to get information from the workers who were already there. From them I learned that if I wanted to leave the place, I had to pay a very high price,” he said.
Ridwan was ordered to create fake accounts on social media and send friend requests to people around the world. He began to understand that his job was to scam these people.
To his horror, Ridwan quickly realised that other workers were being beaten or electrocuted for missing targets.
Desperate to escape, he claimed he was unwell and needed to leave the compound. But he was told he’d have to pay an unaffordable fine for his release.
Unlike many victims of forced scamming, Ridwan’s mobile phone hadn’t been confiscated on arrival. Thankfully this meant he could contact his family to ask for their help.
“I couldn’t afford the ransom money. In the end, my family bailed me out.”
A friend of Ridwan’s who worked for the Salvation Army quickly contacted IJM. As soon as Ridwan was free, IJM and partners stepped in to provide him with aftercare.
Unlike many victims of forced scamming, Ridwan’s mobile phone hadn’t been confiscated on arrival. Thankfully this meant he could contact his family to ask for their help.
“I couldn’t afford the ransom money. In the end, my family bailed me out.”
A friend of Ridwan’s who worked for the Salvation Army quickly contacted IJM. As soon as Ridwan was free, IJM and partners stepped in to provide him with aftercare.
Ridwan felt deeply traumatised by his experience of forced scamming. But once he met IJM, he says he began to feel safe and hopeful again.
“I am grateful to have met IJM and IJMI Foundation when I was in the Philippines because they ensured I was safe while I was there until I returned safely to Indonesia. I was worried when I was alone there,” he recalled.
Today, Ridwan is safely home with his family in Indonesia. He says he no longer takes freedom for granted.
“Through that experience, I started to learn to appreciate everything I have.”
Ridwan continues to receive support from the IJMI Foundation to recover and share about his experience.
“Hopefully, no more Indonesian citizens will be trapped like me.”
Alongside his advocacy, he’s looking for a job in Indonesia so that he can repay his family and friends for their support.