United Nations issues stern warning: Southeast Asian scam parks spread, hundreds of thousands fall into "digital slavery"

On July 30, 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a new warning that the cyber scam industry parks in Southeast Asia continue to expand, forming a systematic human exploitation chain. Tens of thousands of young people are deceived and imprisoned, engaging in telecommunications fraud day after day, being completely "instrumentalized."

⚠ Forced to commit crimes, then detained

IOM Director General Amy Pope pointed out that many victims are forced to participate in scams within the parks, and after the fact, not only are they not rescued, but they are arrested by the law enforcement agencies of the host country as "criminal suspects" after they escape.

"This is not only a human rights crisis but also a black industry chain with an annual output value of tens of billions of dollars," Pope emphasized.

The parks earn over 40 billion dollars a year, targeting victims globally

The report reveals that the scam parks control communication devices, restrict personal freedom, and conduct transactions in cryptocurrencies, forming a highly closed black operation system. The main groups deceived into the parks are:

Migrant workers

Unemployed youth

Marginalized social groups (including the disabled and minors)

They are attracted by "high-paying positions," and once they enter the park, their passports are immediately confiscated, their freedom restricted, they are monitored all day, and they are forced to perform tasks such as "phishing chats" and "investment scams."

Myanmar border becomes a "scam base"

The report names several uncontrolled areas in northern Myanmar as the main distribution centers for the scam industry chain. Due to the region being under military regime control and government dysfunction, it provides a broad survival space for scam gangs.

The operation methods of these parks include:

Pretending to be recruitment agencies offering high-paying positions

Physically controlling people after they enter the park

Using social media platforms to lure overseas users

Using cryptocurrencies like USDT to transfer scam proceeds

The United Nations calls for: Changing law enforcement logic, holding the masterminds accountable

IOM urges governments to re-examine legal frameworks, not to treat those forced into scams as criminals, but as "exploited victims." Efforts should also be increased to strike against the controlling forces behind the scenes, tracking financial chains, cutting off technical support, and stripping political protection.