Victims also reported that some border guards assist criminals, while the police behave threateningly and extort money.
Deceptive Promises of Legal Work
According to satellite images and on-the-ground information, nearly 75% of all operations are concentrated in the Mekong River basin. However, fraudulent centers have also become active on some Pacific islands, in South Asian countries, the Persian Gulf, as well as in West Africa and America.Reports indicate that the studies cover victims from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, India, China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and South Africa. These individuals were taken to fraudulent centers located in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates between 2021 and 2025. The study also included interviews with representatives from the police, border services, and civil organizations.
Brutal Punishments
Some victims described closed complexes covering more than 200 hectares, resembling autonomous cities with high-rise buildings, tall walls, and armed guards.According to one victim from Sri Lanka, those who did not meet the "plans" for fraud were held in so-called water prisons for hours. Other victims claimed they were forced to beat colleagues or witness brutal acts to intimidate and subjugate.
There were also recorded cases of fatalities during escape attempts—some fell from balconies and roofs. Attempts to flee were met with severe punishment. One victim from Vietnam reported that her sister was beaten, subjected to electric shocks, and locked up without food for seven days.
Coercion into Fraudulent Activities
The majority of victims received only a fraction of the promised income: various fines and "expenses" were deducted from their earnings. One interviewee reported being required to "earn" up to $9,500 daily within the fraudulent schemes, under threat of beating or "reselling" to another center with harsher conditions.Unacceptability of Punishing Victims of Human Trafficking
"The scale of these abuses is simply staggering and deeply saddening," noted UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.He emphasized that instead of protection and rehabilitation, victims face distrust, stigmatization, and even punishment.
According to Turk, effective measures based on human rights must be taken, including recognition of forced involvement in criminal activities and the principle of non-punishment for victims of human trafficking.
The report also highlights the importance of safe and timely operations to rescue victims, adherence to the principle of non-refoulement, and providing access to medical and psychological assistance.
Combating Corruption
Researchers conducted a systemic and behavioral analysis to determine the reasons why people continue to fall into such schemes. Among the proposed measures are the creation of safe channels for labor migration, monitoring online job postings, and actively involving civil organizations and the victims themselves in preventive work.The High Commissioner urged states to combat corruption associated with the business of fraudulent networks more vigorously, hold criminal syndicates accountable, and ensure the free operation of independent media and human rights defenders combating human trafficking.
Photo on the homepage: UN News Service / D. Dickinson (fraudulent center in the Philippines organized by an international crime network).
