Eighteen Bangladeshi nationals, ensnared by human traffickers and forced into cybercrime at a scam centre in Myanmar, are set to return home to Dhaka today. Arriving on a Thai Airways flight, their rescue marks a small victory against the growing scourge of cyber scam trafficking in South East Asia—a criminal enterprise that preys on vulnerable job seekers with false promises of lucrative employment.
The victims were lured to Thailand with offers of high-paying jobs, only to be trafficked across the border into Myanmar, where they were coerced into committing online fraud. Refusal to comply resulted in brutal torture, including electric shocks, according to a press release from Dhaka. One victim, critically ill and vomiting blood, was hospitalised alongside another named Junayed. Seizing a rare opportunity, Junayed escaped by crossing a river into Thailand and initiated efforts to rescue his compatriots.
This harrowing episode, facilitated by the Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand, the foreign ministry, and organisations like BRAC, underscores a broader regional crisis. Cyber scam trafficking, often orchestrated through fake job advertisements on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram, has become a pervasive threat across countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. As Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC’s Migration and Youth Platform, warned, “Job seekers should exercise caution regarding offers in these regions. Raising awareness is crucial to prevent more people from falling into this trap.”
A Growing Regional Threat
The plight of these 18 Bangladeshis is not an isolated incident. South East Asia has emerged as a hotspot for cyber scam operations, often run by organised crime syndicates with ties across borders. Scam centres, frequently located in lawless border regions like Myanmar’s eastern frontier, exploit lax governance and porous borders to trap thousands of victims annually. Workers are typically promised roles as computer operators, typists, or call centre agents, only to be held at gunpoint and forced into fraudulent schemes targeting unsuspecting individuals worldwide.
The scale of the problem is staggering. Reports suggest that tens of thousands of people, predominantly from South Asia and Africa, are currently trapped in such centres across the region. Myanmar, in particular, has become a focal point due to ongoing conflict and political instability following the 2021 military coup, which has created fertile ground for criminal networks to operate with impunity. Areas like Myawaddy, near the Thai border, are notorious for housing these scam compounds, often guarded by armed militias.
Victims face not only physical abuse but also psychological torment. Refusal to participate in scams can lead to beatings, starvation, or worse. The case of the Bangladeshi national who fell critically ill highlights the dire conditions inside these centres, where medical care is either nonexistent or used as a tool for further coercion. Junayed’s daring escape across a river into Thailand is a testament to the desperation driving victims to risk their lives for freedom.
The Mechanics of Deception
Traffickers employ sophisticated methods to ensnare their targets. Fake job ads, circulated on social media and messaging apps, promise salaries far above market rates for seemingly straightforward roles. These advertisements often target young, unemployed individuals in economically vulnerable regions like Bangladesh, where the prospect of earning a stable income abroad is a powerful lure. Once victims arrive in countries like Thailand, their passports are confiscated, and they are smuggled into neighbouring territories under false pretences.
Inside scam centres, the work is relentless. Victims are forced to create fake online profiles, impersonate customer service agents, or engage in romance scams and cryptocurrency fraud. Failure to meet quotas can result in severe punishment. “Once inside, victims are held at gunpoint and forced to commit fraud,” Hasan noted in the press release, emphasising the coercive nature of these operations.
The use of technology in these schemes adds another layer of complexity. Traffickers exploit digital platforms not only to recruit victims but also to execute their scams, making it difficult for authorities to track and dismantle these networks. The transnational nature of the crime further complicates enforcement, as perpetrators often operate across multiple jurisdictions with differing legal frameworks.
Rescue and Repatriation Efforts
The rescue of the 18 Bangladeshis was a coordinated effort involving multiple stakeholders. Junayed, after escaping, worked with the victims’ families to alert BRAC, a leading non-governmental organisation in Bangladesh focused on migration and youth issues. BRAC, in turn, collaborated with the foreign ministry and the Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand to secure their release. While the specifics of the operation remain unclear, it is likely that negotiations or interventions with local authorities in Thailand and Myanmar played a role.
Their return to Dhaka on a Thai Airways flight today is a moment of relief for their families, but it also raises questions about the long-term support these individuals will need. Survivors of trafficking often face stigma, trauma, and economic hardship upon returning home. Reintegration programmes, psychological counselling, and legal assistance are critical to helping them rebuild their lives. It remains to be seen whether the Bangladeshi government and civil society organisations will provide such support.
Systemic Challenges and the Path Forward
Addressing cyber scam trafficking requires a multi-pronged approach. At the national level, governments must strengthen regulations around overseas job recruitment, ensuring that agencies are licensed and advertisements are vetted for authenticity. Public awareness campaigns, as Hasan suggested, are essential to educate potential migrants about the risks of fraudulent job offers. In Bangladesh, where remittances from overseas workers form a significant part of the economy, such initiatives could save countless lives.
Regionally, greater cooperation is needed among South East Asian nations to combat this cross-border crime. Joint task forces, intelligence sharing, and harmonised legal frameworks could help disrupt trafficking networks. However, political instability in countries like Myanmar poses a significant barrier. Without addressing the root causes—such as conflict, poverty, and weak governance—these criminal enterprises will continue to thrive.
Internationally, platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram must take responsibility for curbing the spread of fake job ads. Enhanced algorithms to detect and remove fraudulent content, coupled with partnerships with law enforcement, could reduce the reach of traffickers. Yet, the scale of online activity makes this a daunting task, and tech companies have often been slow to act on such issues.
A Call for Vigilance
The return of these 18 Bangladeshi nationals to Dhaka is a reminder of both human resilience and systemic failure. While their rescue is a cause for celebration, it is but a drop in the ocean compared to the thousands still trapped in scam centres across South East Asia. If left unchecked, this form of modern slavery will continue to devastate lives and undermine regional stability.
For now, the focus must be on prevention. Job seekers must be vigilant, verifying offers through official channels and seeking advice from trusted organisations before embarking on overseas ventures. Governments, NGOs, and international bodies must work together to dismantle these criminal networks and protect the vulnerable. Only through sustained, collective action can the region hope to stem the tide of cyber scam trafficking—a crime that exploits dreams and turns them into nightmares.