Warning over human trafficking victims forced into online scams in Southeast Asia

A UN report found that criminal gangs trafficked people and forced them to commit online fraud. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said victims were forced into fraud and subjected to inhumane treatment including violence and abuse.

The scale of the problem is difficult to assess, given the clandestine nature of the activity and the ineffectiveness of the authorities’ response, according to the report. However, reliable sources say that at least 120,000 people across Myanmar may be held captive and forced to commit online fraud. Estimates put the figure at around 100,000 in Cambodia. Laos, the Philippines and Thailand are other countries in the region that have been identified as major destinations or transit points for human trafficking.

These criminal groups are estimated to generate billions of dollars in revenue each year. Victims come from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan (China), and even Africa and Latin America. The majority of victims are men.

These criminal networks have profited from the COVID-19 pandemic, as several countries have closed casinos to contain the outbreak. This has forced casino operators to move their operations to places with less regulatory oversight, such as conflict zones and online environments.

The COVID-19 crisis has left many vulnerable migrants stranded in some countries, losing their jobs as borders closed and businesses shut down. Restrictions have also left people spending more time online, making them vulnerable to online scams.