By Sri Lankans Lured into Myanmar Cyber Scam Operations: A Harrowing Tale of Exploitation
When Dilshani’s husband, Priyankara, an experienced IT executive, sought overseas employment, he believed he had found the perfect opportunity as a data entry operator in Thailand.
Enticed by promises of a luxurious work environment and a lucrative salary, he felt his dream of a better life was within reach. However, this dream quickly turned into a nightmare when he discovered that he had been deceived and trapped in a cyber scam operation in one of Myanmar’s most dangerous regions.
The Rise of Cyber Scam Centers in Myanmar
Following Myanmar’s military coup, many of the country’s states fell under the control of junta-allied Border Guard Forces. This shift in power created a fertile ground for cyber scam operations, as weak governance allowed criminal enterprises to flourish. The U.S. foreign policy think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, notes that Myanmar has become a hub for these operations, particularly in newly developed areas like Shwe Kokko, which masquerade as special economic zones. These regions have attracted Chinese-run scam businesses, exploiting the absence of state control and the fractured nature of Myanmar’s borderlands, which have become a global crime corridor.
Life Inside the Cyber Scam Operations
Priyankara, like many others, was lured into this web of deceit. After arriving at his new workplace, an isolated complex guarded by armed men, he quickly realized the grim reality. Instead of the promised data entry job, he was forced into participating in “pig-butchering” scams—a type of online investment fraud where scammers build trust with victims over time before defrauding them. Employees like Priyankara are instructed to find potential victims on platforms like TikTok and pass their details to the Chinese operators running these schemes.
The working conditions are brutal. Employees are fined for minor infractions, such as not meeting client quotas or being late to work, with fines reaching as high as $100. The situation is so dire that many, including Priyankara, have considered taking their own lives as an escape. Those who fail to perform are subjected to severe punishments, including physical torture and electrocution.
A Desperate Plea for Repatriation
The situation for the Sri Lankans trapped in these camps is increasingly desperate. Many have not received any payment and are instead accruing debts to their employers, who demand exorbitant sums—up to $8,000—for their release. Families back in Sri Lanka have formed a group to advocate for the repatriation of their loved ones, but progress has been slow. Despite numerous appeals to the Sri Lankan government and international organizations, only a few have been rescued so far.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been working with the Sri Lankan government to facilitate the return of those trapped, but the process is fraught with challenges. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has urged citizens to avoid seeking employment in Myanmar through illegal means, highlighting the dangers of falling into such traps.
The Need for Stronger Government Action
The plight of these Sri Lankans underscores the urgent need for stronger government intervention and more effective international cooperation to rescue those trapped in these cyber scam operations. While some progress has been made, much more needs to be done to ensure the safe return of all victims and to prevent others from falling into similar situations. As families wait anxiously for their loved ones’ return, the call for action grows louder, with the hope that their pleas will not go unanswered
