Myanmar Scam Centers: Thousands Trapped, Seeking Escape

Myanmar's Trafficking Centers Trap Thousands, Raising Desperation

A man, speaking softly on the phone, urgently pleaded for help. "I truly swear, I need assistance," he said.

Mike, an Ethiopian national, identified himself as one of 450 individuals held inside a building along Myanmar's border with Thailand. He is one of many victims who were freed from notorious scam centers operating along the Thailand-Myanmar border, which have long been a hub for human trafficking.

This marks a particularly severe phase in the crackdown against these centers, which have been running for years in the border region. However, despite the promises of rescue, many individuals are now stuck in Myanmar's emergency shelters due to a painfully slow process of verification and repatriation arrangements.

Military groups holding the detainees have limited capacity to assist the large number of victims, which exceeds 7,000. According to one source, the pace at which people are being moved out of the camps is unsatisfactory, with no timely solutions in sight.

Reports from BBC indicate that conditions within the camp are dire. Food is scarce, and health issues abound, with many victims, including Mike, facing serious health challenges.

Mike, having endured a year in a scam center where he was regularly tortured, described his life as one of anxiety. "We get two meals a day, and there are only two toilets for 450 people," he said. "Now, people relieve themselves wherever they can."

A year ago, Mike was promised a good job in Thailand, requiring only proficiency in English and writing skills. Instead, he found himself under harsh supervision, working long hours to meet the targets of online scams, under the orders of his Chinese bosses. "It was the worst experience of my life. I was beaten, but believe me, I’ve seen worse things done to others," he shared.

Mike is one of an estimated 100,000 individuals who have been brought to work in scam operations along the Thailand-Myanmar border. These operations, largely controlled by criminal gangs and Chinese gambling syndicates, have thrived in an area with little law enforcement.

Despite the disturbing reports of abuse from those who have escaped, many still fall prey to these schemes, lured by promises of high-paying jobs in a region where such opportunities are scarce.

While China has taken steps to close down activities along its border with Myanmar, both Thailand and China had not made significant moves until recently to address the situation at the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Ariyan, a young man from Bangladesh, returned to Thailand to assist 17 friends still trapped in the scam centers. He vowed to do so after escaping one of the notorious trafficking hubs in October of last year.

He shared a chilling video from the facility, which was still under construction in a remote valley, where he and others were held. Ariyan recalled the abuse he endured at the hands of Chinese bosses: "They gave you a weekly target of $5,000. If you didn’t meet it, they’d shock you with an electric shock. Or lock you in a dark, windowless room. But if you made a lot of money, they’d be happy with you."

Ariyan was forced to deceive men from the Middle East, convincing them to send money for a fake investment scheme. Using AI, the traffickers made him appear as a beautiful woman on screen, even altering his voice.

He expressed his deep disgust for the scam but remembered one man who was willing to sell his wife’s jewelry to fund the fraudulent investment. Ariyan wanted to warn him, but the bosses monitored all their phones.