Victims Of Trafficking In Persons Forced To Become Online Fraudsters, Myanmar Dismantles Syndicate Headquarters

A number of TIP victims who left the company for online fraud (online scam) Myanmar entered the bus after arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday (29/10/2025)./ANTARA/HO-Kemlu RI/aa.

JAKARTA - Myanmar's junta authorities have begun dismantling more than a hundred buildings used as centers of online fraud operations in a number of areas of the country.

According to an official statement by Myanmar's lighting authority last weekend, 101 buildings have been demolished, and 47 others will be demolished in the coming days.

The buildings are known to be the headquarters of criminal syndicates that employ foreigners, most of whom are victims of trafficking in people who are forced to work in online scam schemes targeting victims in various countries.

The Myanmar government has stated that it is committed to coordinating with neighboring countries and international organizations to identify and take action against the perpetrators of these cross-border crimes.

In addition to the demolition, the authorities also investigated and detained foreigners suspected of being involved in the online fraud operation.

Meanwhile in Cambodia, the issue of online fraud is also a serious concern. Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at Phnom Penh to discuss cooperation in eradicating cross-border cybercrime, Yonhap reported.

The meeting was held following the tragic case of a South Korean student who was tortured to death by an online fraud syndicate in Cambodia, after being framed with a false job offer.

The incident sparked a national investigation in Seoul and prompted the South Korean government to increase cooperation with Southeast Asian countries in eradicating online fraud syndicates.

During the meeting, officials from both countries agreed to strengthen strategic partnerships in dealing with cross-border crimes and expanding cooperation in the security and protection of citizens.

PM Hun Manet also emphasized that the security of South Koreans in Cambodia will be a priority for the Phnom Penh government, as reported by the Khmer Times.

As a follow-up, Cambodia formed a special task force to investigate online fraud networks targeting South Koreans. This task force is the result of a meeting agreement between PM Manet and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Kuala Lumpur last month.