Cyber Crime
Trapped in Cyber Hell: 100,000 Stranded at Thai-Myanmar Scam Border
Despite a significant multinational crackdown spanning several weeks, illegal scam centres along the Thai-Myanmar border remain fully operational, employing an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 individuals, according to senior Thai police officials.
A Lucrative Illegal Industry
Thailand, spearheading the crackdown, faces an uphill battle against scam centres that are deeply entrenched in Myawaddy, an area notorious for online fraud and cybercrime operations.
According to the United Nations, these facilities are part of a sprawling Southeast Asian criminal network generating billions of dollars annually. Often, individuals working at these centres are victims of trafficking, tricked by promises of legitimate employment.
However, Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Inspector-General of the Royal Thai Police and the lead figure in the crackdown, stated that early assessments indicate hundreds of the rescued workers went to Myawaddy voluntarily.
“Many individuals use Thailand as a transit point to reach Myawaddy, not just for call centre scams but also for online gambling and various other professions,” explained Pol Gen Thatchai in a recent interview.
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Voluntary Workers or Victims?
Pol Gen Thatchai’s statement challenges widespread beliefs that most scam centre workers are trafficked against their will. While many reports detail harrowing stories of victims tricked into forced labour, the general maintains that many individuals entered the region willingly.
Jason Tower, a leading analyst at the US Institute of Peace, emphasized a complex reality: “Many initially went willingly, only realizing they’d been trafficked upon arrival and being coerced into scamming operations.”
Increased Global Attention Following High-Profile Kidnapping
These scam centres attracted global attention following the kidnapping and rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing from Myawaddy earlier this year. The incident triggered significant backlash on Chinese social media and prompted Beijing to dispatch authorities to Thailand, collaborating on rescue operations.
Since then, over 5,200 individuals have been extracted from scam centres in Myawaddy. Approximately 3,500 have returned home via Thailand, which has also halted essential supplies such as electricity, fuel, and internet to disrupt scam operations.
However, Pol Gen Thatchai acknowledges that the crackdown has only impacted a small segment of these extensive operations.
International Collaboration Essential
With workers hailing from over 20 countries, Thai authorities are advocating for multinational cooperation to repatriate victims and prosecute offenders effectively. Pol Gen Thatchai stressed the urgency of setting up an international coordination centre to streamline investigations, facilitate repatriations, and strengthen regional law enforcement collaboration.
“These individuals should be prosecuted in their respective home countries, and the Thai police are committed to supporting these efforts,” he said.
Personal Stories Highlight Brutal Reality
One victim, Shaik Hussain from Hyderabad, vividly described his terrifying ordeal in a recent FIR filed by Telangana Cyber Security Bureau. Hussain, 25, was lured through a fake data-entry job, transported to Myawaddy, and then forcibly taken by armed personnel linked to the Border Guard Force (BGF), a military group supporting Myanmar’s Junta.
He was subsequently handed over to Zhantu Company, a Chinese-run cybercrime facility, forced into crypto scams targeting US investors. Workers were manipulated into creating false identities on social media, luring victims into investing in rigged cryptocurrency platforms.
When Hussain failed to meet imposed targets, he faced severe punishments, including prolonged physical abuse and harsh working conditions. He eventually managed to secretly contact the Indian Embassy, leading to his rescue in a joint military operation involving Myanmar, Thailand, and China. Hussain and his cousin, Mohd Shabaz, returned to India via military aircraft in March 2025.
Hussain’s harrowing experience highlights how voluntary recruitment promises can rapidly deteriorate into forced labour and exploitation, a key concern for international law enforcement.
Ongoing Investigations and Repatriation Challenges
Currently, thousands remain stranded on the Thai-Myanmar border, lacking resources to return home. Thai authorities emphasize the immediate need to facilitate rapid repatriations to allow Myanmar and local ethnic armed groups more freedom to dismantle remaining scam facilities.
Authorities in Telangana are actively investigating Indian recruiters who continue funneling victims into these illegal centres, with particular attention on the Border Guard Force’s role in protecting these criminal operations.
While significant progress has been made, authorities acknowledge there remains a monumental task ahead. Sustained international cooperation, proactive investigations, and victim support systems are vital to dismantle the entrenched scam networks thriving along the Thai-Myanmar border.