More than 600 people from Myanmar escaped a scam center and crossed into Thailand after a military raid, a provincial border official said Thursday.
These scam centers are known for online fraud using romance and business scams. Amid the unrest in Myanmar since the 2021 coup, compounds where people are trafficked or forced to join illegal operations are working have increased.
According to Sawanit Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, deputy governor of Tak province, 677 people have fled from the KK Park scam center and crossed the Moei River. There are more than 100 others waiting at the border area to enter Thailand.
Authorities said those who crossed would be screened to determine whether they were victims of human trafficking or if they violated any border crossing laws. Among those who fled were foreigners from various countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines.
According to a United Nations report, ₱2.1 trillion (equivalent to $37 billion) losses from online scams in the region in 2023. Southeast Asian countries have continued to be encouraged to work together to stop the growing cyberscam industry.
