Cyber Fraud Centers in Myanmar: The Dark Reality for Trafficked Workers

Reports highlight the horrific plight of trafficked workers forced to operate scam centers in Myanmar, detailing their brutal experiences and the networks facilitating such exploitation.

In the heart of Myanmar, a thriving cyber fraud industry has emerged, exploiting tens of thousands of trafficked individuals lured by promises of lucrative jobs in a modern setting. Among them is Fisher, a 27-year-old from Ethiopia, who sold his family’s farmland to fund a ticket to what he believed would be a rewarding career in Bangkok. Instead, his journey took a dark turn.

Upon arrival, he was transported across a river into Myanmar, a country rife with conflict and controlled by criminal networks that specialize in scams. Expecting a fresh start, he was quickly confronted with a grim reality: he was thrust into life at a scam center, forced to con unsuspecting victims online while enduring physical punishment for any signs of defiance.

After refusing to participate, Fisher faced brutal reprisals, suffering torture in a confined space where he was bound and subjected to humiliating treatment designed to break his spirit. Other victims have similarly recounted the horrors they experienced, sharing stories of being deprived of rest, threatened with violence, and forced to work in appalling conditions.

The surge of cyber fraud originating from Myanmar has drawn the attention of governments and NGOs alike, yet the cycle of trafficking and exploitation appears relentless, as criminals find new ways to ensnare individuals desperate for a better life. The stories of these workers highlight the urgent need for increased awareness and international collaboration to combat human trafficking and provide protections for the most vulnerable.