Myanmar Scam Centers
Hundreds of young men from Pakistan have found themselves trapped in online scam centres operating in the lawless border regions of Myanmar, where they are subjected to forced labour under brutal conditions.
These scam centres, which have proliferated in recent years, form part of a massive criminal network responsible for swindling billions of dollars from unsuspecting victims worldwide.
According to reports, these centres operate as cybercrime hubs where thousands of foreign workers, including a significant number of Pakistanis, are forced to carry out fraudulent activities. These include romance scams, fake investment schemes, and credit card fraud, all designed to deceive individuals on social media and other online platforms.
Many of these young men, highly educated and seeking better employment opportunities, were deceived by fake online job advertisements promising lucrative positions in Thailand.
However, upon their arrival, they were trafficked to Myanmar and coerced into working under inhumane conditions. Once inside these scam centres, their passports and mobile phones were confiscated, leaving them with no means of escape or communication with their families.
Victims have reported enduring severe physical abuse, mental torture, and forced labour without pay. Those who refuse to comply with their captors’ demands face extreme cruelty and threats to their lives.
Myanmar’s ongoing civil war has further complicated efforts to rescue those trapped, as many of these scam operations are based in regions outside the control of the ruling military junta.
The United Nations estimates that as many as 120,000 people—primarily Chinese nationals—are working against their will in these centres. Organised criminal gangs operating these compounds lure individuals with false promises of high salaries, only to subject them to harsh working conditions and brutal punishments.
In a tragic incident, eleven Pakistani youths attempted a daring escape by crossing a river into Thailand. Unfortunately, five of them drowned, while six managed to reach Thai territory, where they were later rescued. The intervention of the Pakistani embassy in Thailand ensured the safe repatriation of these survivors back to Pakistan, ending their horrifying ordeal.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Thailand, Rukhsana Afzal, has assured that efforts are ongoing to evacuate all Pakistanis still imprisoned in Myanmar. She briefed Deputy Senate Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasir, who was visiting Thailand, about the difficulties in securing the release of more victims due to financial constraints.
Deputy Chairman Nasir expressed deep concern over the matter and reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s policy that no Pakistani should remain stranded abroad illegally.
He assured that he would escalate the issue to both the prime minister and the foreign minister, with the expectation that the government would take the matter seriously and extend full support to the Pakistani embassy.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani community in Thailand has stepped forward to assist the stranded individuals. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and other organisations are actively providing essential aid, including food, accommodation, and other necessities, to Pakistanis who have managed to escape Myanmar.
Until their safe return is arranged, the expenses of these individuals are being covered by the Pakistani expatriate community.
The Pakistani ambassador and Senate deputy chairman have expressed their gratitude to these community members for their generosity and efforts in supporting their fellow citizens in distress. As the crisis continues, authorities are under pressure to take swift action to rescue the remaining Pakistanis trapped in these dangerous cybercrime networks.
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