UN Report Reveals: Over 250K Victims Trapped in Southeast Asia’s Online Scam Slavery
A recent United Nations report has shed light on the shocking reality of a thriving industry in Southeast Asia: online scam slavery. According to the report, there are over 250,000 victims trapped in these slavery and human trafficking rackets.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) has identified Myanmar and Cambodia as the main countries with a significant number of victims. Credible sources estimate that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and around 100,000 in Cambodia are forced to carry out online scams.
The problem extends to other countries in the region, including Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand, where tens of thousands of people have also fallen prey to these trafficking rings. The scams range from romance-investment scams to crypto fraud and illegal gambling, generating billions of dollars in illegal revenue every year.
The link between human trafficking and online scam operations has been a concern for international investigators for years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation exponentially. With the closure of casinos due to lockdowns, many migrants who relied on casino employment found themselves without work and vulnerable to human traffickers.
The pandemic also led to a surge in online activity, creating an increased demand for cheap labor to expand online scam operations. The use of digital payment systems and QR codes during the lockdowns also opened up new avenues for cybercrime.
The victims of these online scam operations are mostly men, although women and adolescents are also among them. Many victims are well-educated, with professional or graduate degrees, computer literacy, and multi-lingual abilities. They come from various countries in the ASEAN region, as well as mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Traffickers often fraudulently recruit young university graduates by offering attractive job opportunities abroad. However, upon arrival, these victims are instead kidnapped and forced into sweatshops where they become enslaved. Scam centers function like concentration camps, using coercive measures to control their victims, including physical restraints and confiscation of passports and cell phones.
Victims are kept in debt bondage, required to pay off exorbitant fees for food and housing before they can be freed. Some are even sold to other scam operations, further increasing their debts. Attempts to escape or disobey their owners result in inhumane treatment, physical abuse, torture, or even execution.
The scams themselves vary in complexity, ranging from simple phone hustles to sophisticated investment scams. Scammers invest considerable effort in training their operators and creating the illusion of a legitimate business. One prevalent scam involves online dating schemes, where victims are persuaded to send money to their supposed love interest.
The UN report emphasizes that the people trafficked and forced into these scam operations should be seen as victims rather than criminals. It calls for a comprehensive response, encompassing not only a robust criminal justice approach but also improvements in human rights, governance, and the rule of law.
The crisis unfolds differently in each hot zone, with voids of regulation in the Chinese-run special economic zones across Southeast Asia and a contiguous zone of criminality around Myanmar. In Cambodia, the problem is exacerbated by links between prominent tycoons and elite figures with large scam operations.
While the government of Cambodia has dismissed the UN report as political fabrication, it is crucial for all affected states to address these systemic issues seriously. Upholding human rights, improving governance, tackling corruption, and strengthening law enforcement are essential steps in combatting this grave form of modern slavery.
In conclusion, the online scam slavery crisis in Southeast Asia demands urgent attention and concerted efforts to rescue and support the victims. By recognizing them as victims rather than criminals, and implementing comprehensive measures to combat human trafficking, the international community can help put an end to this heinous practice.
