Unlike millions of other migrant workers, Zhu Yu will not go back to his village this Spring Festival. It is not because he cannot get a train ticket or that he is ashamed of his poor roots. No, Zhu fears that if he returns he will be hounded for the vast sums of money he owes friends and relatives.

Meng Fanxing, 47, was the eldest of 69 migrant workers who were stranded in Romania. He said his left leg was injured on a construction site in Bucharest and has been unable to work since.

His dream had been to work in Eastern Europe and return to Hebei province with pocketfuls of money. But the labor agency he trusted to make it a reality could be a fraud.

Now, instead of rejoining his family in Gucheng county for the Chinese New Year celebrations, Zhu Yu, 23, and his younger brother must live in self-imposed exile until they have saved enough to pay off their debts.

"When they heard my sons were going to earn money abroad, our relatives and neighbors all came forward to offer us money to help. We promised to pay them back as soon as they came back from Romania," said their father Zhu Zhenfang in Mazhuang village. "Who would have known it was all a big con?

"Relatives and friends often visit our house now they know my sons have returned. They do not say it directly but I know they are trying to find out when they will get their money back."

The Zhu brothers were among 69 Gucheng workers allegedly tricked into paying 80,000 yuan each to secure a place on an overseas job program that promised working visas, decent salaries and free accommodation.

"The intermediate agency said we could work at least three or five years in Romania for 3 euros ($4) an hour, while the contractor would provide free accommodation," said worker Li Baoxu, 46. "They said if we performed well for five years they would even help us get permanent residency in Europe."

But after just three months on a construction project on the outskirts of Bucharest, the capital of Romania, the workers discovered their visas were invalid and they were evicted from their accommodation. Destitute, they were eventually deported back to China last year.