‘Further victimisation’: US urges softer tack towards Asian nationals tricked into becoming scammers

An annual human trafficking report by the US urges governments to protect survivors of trafficking from ‘inappropriate punishment and further victimisation’

Consequences of punishing these victims undermines larger anti-trafficking efforts as fear of punishment sways victims from seeking help

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Vast scam operations, often run by Chinese-dominated crime syndicates, deceive young, tech savvy workers with fake job offers luring them to “scam factories” across Southeast Asia. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:33pm, 16 Jun 2023

The United States has urged a more humane approach to people tricked into the scam trade since they are also victims of trafficking, as a massive cyber fraud epidemic continues to roil Asia.

The annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) – released on Thursday by the US State Department – urged governments to provide survivors of trafficking protection from “inappropriate punishment and further victimisation”.

The report comes as experts say tens of thousands of young men and women remain captives of scam gangs who use them to target vulnerable people online from Asia and beyond with Ponzi schemes, bogus cryptocurrency investments as well as fictitious promises of romance.

These vast scam operations, often run by Chinese-dominated crime syndicates, deceive young, tech savvy workers with fake job offers luring them to “scam factories” in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines with high paying jobs which turn out to be scamming.

Some of those who make it out – often by paying thousands of dollars in release fees – have recounted stories of prolonged detention for crossing borders illegally and then prosecution for being involved in the scam trade.

“These individuals are often held liable and face various forms of punishment including fines, detention, prosecution, conviction, and deportation,” the report said.

But the consequences of punishing these victims undermines larger anti-trafficking efforts as fear of punishment sways victims from seeking protection and help, the report added.

Scam gangs target vulnerable people online from Asia and beyond with Ponzi schemes, bogus cryptocurrency investments as well as fictitious promises of romance. Photo: Shutterstock