This is the story of “Jaclyn”, a former security guard enticed to work by a recruiter who promised her a job as an encoder in Thailand. Instead, Jaclyn was trafficked to a “scam center” in Myanmar where she was kept as a virtual prisoner, beaten up, and forced to lure strangers on dating apps and social media into online romances. Once the victims were emotionally invested, she would slowly introduce them to a fake investment platform.
Jaclyn’s team of ten workers was ordered to generate at least ₱20 million a month from victims, an impossible target. When her team failed, punishments followed: running laps under the noontime sun, squatting until they collapsed, or standing still for hours. Sometimes, she was beaten with a pipe.
Her ordeal ended only two years later when she was rescued in May 2024 by Philippine embassy officials and Thai authorities.
The United Nations estimates that 120,000 people have been trafficked into scam centers in Myanmar. These centers generate some $37 to $60 billion each year. They are a modern form of slavery driven by mostly Chinese criminal syndicates that exploit economic desperation and weak law enforcement.
The Myanmar-China border regions host these scam centers. These are large areas controlled by militias, the military and warlords. No one is in control, making it easy for criminals to operate.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a stark reminder: “Don’t be deceived. Once you’re taken across the border into Myanmar, you are under the control of armed groups. Escaping becomes almost impossible.”
Story by Ian Simbulan of GMA Public Affairs in partnership with PCIJ.