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It often starts with a simple text message. “Hello” from an unknown number. A question about weekend availability. An offer for a part-time job. Across the world, laborers working 12-16 hour days are sending these messages in hopes someone will respond—the first step in elaborate scams that have bilked victims out of tens of billions of dollars.
Behind these digital schemes lies a dark industry that has flourished across Southeast Asia, where hundreds of thousands of people are trapped in forced labor situations to keep these operations running. The scamming industry, with its roots in illegal gambling and online casinos, has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise with global reach.
Last month, Myanmar’s military raided one of the most notorious scam compounds—the sprawling KK Park along the Thailand-Myanmar border. The raid prompted approximately 1,500 laborers to flee across the border into Thailand. Among them were hundreds of Indian nationals, along with Chinese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Ethiopians, Kenyans, and others.
Thai authorities are now working with India and other governments to repatriate these workers. On Thursday, one of the largest groups was flown home on Indian air force transport planes, with more scheduled to return next week. Myanmar troops reportedly demolished several structures within the complex during the operation.
Yet KK Park represents just a fraction of the problem. Dozens of similar centers operate along the Thai-Myanmar border alone, with hundreds more scattered across Southeast Asia.
These scam compounds typically follow a common model—sprawling rural complexes featuring sleeping quarters, shops, and entertainment venues for staff. Developers build out properties and lease space to various companies, often operating under the protection of local elites. Smaller operations exist as well, occupying single floors in legitimate office buildings or rented houses in urban areas.
The origins of these centers can be traced to the casino industry. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identified more than 340 licensed and non-licensed casinos across Southeast Asia in 2021 alone. These establishments, many operated by Chinese criminal groups, catered to high-rollers from China, where gambling is outlawed.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, strict travel restrictions made visiting physical casinos nearly impossible. Faced with dwindling customers, some online casinos pivoted to criminal operations, defrauding targets worldwide through increasingly sophisticated digital schemes.
The labor force powering these operations includes both trafficked individuals and willing workers lured by false promises of high salaries and comfortable office jobs. A 2023 report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that at least 120,000 people across Myanmar and another 100,000 in Cambodia may be held in forced labor situations connected to online scams.
While workers initially came primarily from China and Chinese-speaking countries, the UN drugs and crime office now reports that laborers are drawn from 56 countries, spanning from Indonesia to Liberia. The reality they face starkly contrasts with what they were promised—passports are confiscated, movement is restricted, and physical punishment is common for those who fail to meet quotas.
Only senior managers and trusted lieutenants enjoy freedom of movement. The rest face brutal conditions while carrying out scams that target victims globally, aided by AI-powered translation tools that help overcome language barriers.
The schemes are varied and sophisticated. In the Philippines, authorities raided a complex in March 2024 where workers were targeting Chinese nationals with investment scams. Following carefully crafted scripts, they posed as high-ranking employees at the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation to convince victims to invest in crude oil futures.
The financial impact is staggering. In 2024 alone, Americans lost at least $10 billion to Southeast Asia-based scams, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Last month, U.S. prosecutors indicted Chen Zhi, a Chinese-Cambodian businessman, on charges of defrauding people through a massive criminal network. His organization allegedly scammed 250 Americans out of millions of dollars, with one victim losing $400,000 in cryptocurrency.
Despite government crackdowns and raids that have freed some trapped workers and shut down certain compounds, activists say the main perpetrators remain at large. New scam centers continue to emerge not just in Southeast Asia but around the world, with operations reported in Africa and Latin America.
“If we only rescue the victims, and don’t arrest anybody, especially the Chinese mafia and those transnational syndicates, then there will be no point,” said Jay Kritiya, coordinator of the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, who has rescued forced laborers from scam compounds. “They can get more victims… they can scam anytime.”
As authorities struggle to dismantle these operations, the scams continue evolving. Common tactics include investment opportunities in cryptocurrency, online task scams where victims are asked to pay to advance to the next level, and creating a false sense of urgency to pressure quick decisions. Many schemes begin by paying out real money in earlier stages to build trust before the eventual deception.
The global nature of this criminal enterprise makes it particularly difficult to combat, requiring unprecedented international cooperation to address both the perpetrators and the conditions that allow such operations to flourish.
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7 Comments
This is a complex problem with global implications. While it’s good to see authorities taking action, the scale of the scam industry highlights the need for stronger international cooperation and protections for migrant workers. Addressing the root causes will be crucial to prevent these crimes from continuing.
I agree, a coordinated, multi-pronged approach is needed to truly tackle this issue. Improved labor laws, tighter regulations, and robust worker support systems could all play a role in disrupting these scam networks.
It’s alarming to see how these scam operations have evolved and expanded across Southeast Asia. The forced labor and exploitation of vulnerable workers is absolutely unacceptable. I hope the crackdowns and international cooperation can help shut down these criminal enterprises.
This is a heartbreaking situation. The sheer number of people trapped in these scam centers is devastating. While the raids and repatriation efforts are a step in the right direction, the underlying issues of poverty, lack of opportunity, and weak worker protections need to be addressed to truly tackle this problem.
The article highlights the urgent need for stronger worker protections and anti-trafficking measures, both at the national and international level. These scams take advantage of the desperation of migrant workers, and the global scale of the problem is staggering. Concerted action is required to dismantle these criminal networks and provide support to victims.
The article provides a sobering look at the dark underbelly of the digital economy. These scams prey on the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, and the sheer scale is staggering. I hope the repatriation efforts can offer some relief, but long-term solutions to protect workers are desperately needed.
Deeply troubling to hear about the rise of scam centers in Southeast Asia. Forced labor and exploitation of vulnerable workers is an appalling human rights issue that must be addressed. I hope the crackdowns and repatriation efforts can provide relief to those trapped in these scams.