Human trafficking in the form of forced labor conducted by online scammers has increased in Myanmar and neighboring countries. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has seen a significant surge in the number of people they have assisted in 2022 due to this issue. The Covid-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work have provided scammers with the opportunity to carry out fraudulent activities. The Interpol issued an orange notice on human trafficking-related frauds last June. Scammers have taken advantage of the high unemployment rates caused by the pandemic, luring victims with promises of employment. Victims have reported being subjected to violence, including mental and physical abuse, and being threatened with organ removal and resale if they did not comply. The Thai government, along with organizations and other countries, is working to rescue victims and combat trafficking. This problem extends beyond Southeast Asia, with victims coming from countries such as Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South America, West Africa, East Africa, and Europe.
Meta Data: {“keywords”:”human trafficking, forced labor, online scams”}
Source link
