Indonesia rescues nationals trafficked to Myanmar for cyber scams

Indonesian officials are currently working to rescue dozens of their nationals who were trafficked to Myanmar to work as cyber scammers, amidst a rise in human trafficking cases in Southeast Asia. At least 20 Indonesians are stranded in Myawaddy township, where an armed conflict between Myanmar’s military and ethnic Karen rebels is taking place. Fake recruiters had offered victims high-paying jobs in Thailand, but instead trafficked them to Myawaddy to perform cyber scams for crypto websites or apps. Some victims were tortured when they could not meet certain targets and forced to pay more than $10,000 in travel costs. The Indonesian Embassy is also working to repatriate victims of online scams in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines. The issue will be raised at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, which Indonesia will host on May 10-11.