As thousands of people go about their daily lives, a darker reality continues to unfold behind the scenes in parts of Southeast Asia. Trafficked victims are being forced to run online scam operations under threats, violence, and coercion. A new report by the United Nations Human Rights Office warns that the crisis is not only ongoing but worsening and calls for states to take urgent actions to tackle trafficking.
The UN Special Procedures says cybercrime operations in Southeast Asia have grown to an industrial scale, with an estimated 300,000 people from 66 countries involved in scam networks.
Satellite imagery and field reports show that nearly three-quarters of these operations are concentrated in the Mekong region. But the networks are expanding, reaching Pacific Island countries, South Asia, the Gulf States, West Africa, and even the Americas.
According to the report, some estimates suggest the global scam industry generates up to 64 billion US dollars annually, driven largely by the rapid expansion of digital and crypto-based finance. In the Mekong region alone, the industry is believed to be worth over 43.8 billion US dollars each year.
Victims interviewed by UN Human Rights described being lured into scamming jobs under false pretences and then being coerced into perpetrating online fraud ranging from impersonation scams, online extortion, financial fraud as well as romantic scams.
Most victims said they were paid, but none received their full promised salary due to heavy deductions. One Thai victim told UN Human Rights officials that they had to scam about 9,500 US dollars a day or face fines, beatings, or being sold to a harsher compound.
In the report, survivors also shared about people losing their lives as they attempted to escape, including falling from balconies and roofs in the compounds.
Many of these compounds operate like self-contained towns, some spanning over 500 acres, with multi-storey buildings, high barbed-wire walls, and armed security.
Meanwhile in Bhutan, although there are no reports of large scale scam operations, people do fall victim to scams and trafficking. The country recorded nearly 150 scam cases in 2024, which increased to nearly 170 last year. Since 2024, nearly 40 million ngultrum have been involved in scams, with authorities recovering almost half the amount so far.
The country repatriated nearly 250 Bhutanese between 2020 and last year after falling victim to human trafficking networks abroad.
The UN Human Rights Office urges States and other stakeholders to take a human rights-based approach to tackling trafficking, ensuring that the rights, dignity, safety, and well-being of victims are at the centre. This includes fully respecting the non-punishment principle for victims.
It also stresses that independent media, human rights defenders, and civil society must be able to carry out anti-trafficking work without interference, and that awareness efforts should be clear, practical, and shared through trusted media channels.
Kinzang Lhadon
