Scam Hubs: Thai Police Say 99% of Workers Joined Voluntarily

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Thai Newsroom

 

In a startling revelation, Thai authorities have disclosed that a mere 1% of workers returning from scam centres in Myanmar are genuine victims, with the vast majority reportedly engaging with these criminal operations willingly. This announcement follows rigorous investigations into the activities of numerous scam centres situated along the Thai-Myanmar border.

 

Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelabut, who heads the Centre for the Protection of Children, Women and Families, commented on the process of welcoming back individuals fleeing from these illegal employments.

 

He revealed that discussions with various international ambassadors are imminent, aimed at ensuring a smooth return of call-centre workers crossing into Thailand. Notably, the Thai government has clarified that not all these returnees will be categorised as victims, given the voluntary nature of their initial participation.

 

Just yesterday, reports indicated that 7,000 individuals trapped within these scam rings were in the process of being released and escorted back to Thailand. This follows strategic actions by Thai authorities, including cutting off electricity, Internet, and fuel supplies to select townships in Myanmar, effectively crippling scam operations and encouraging a mass return.

The Thai-Myanmar crossing through Mae Sot has seen an uptick in movement, with Pol. Gen. Thatchai noting that immigration records trace a wide array of nationalities using this checkpoint.

 

Remarkably, it appears that nearly all of these workers made conscious decisions to join scam rings, with only an estimated 1%—like the case of Chinese actor Xingxing, who endured brief captivity—truly misled into these activities.

 

Additionally, four Japanese nationals, suspected of involvement in human trafficking, have been apprehended as they attempted to cross back into Thailand, further highlighting the complexity of dismantling these transnational crime networks.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai Newsroom

 

The criminal syndicates, often run by Chinese nationals, typically employ Thai citizens to establish mule accounts. The illicit operations extend across Cambodia and Laos, thus complicating the network's dismantlement.

 

As Thai authorities continue to process and differentiate victims from willing participants, the Border Command Centre is tasked with their care in the interim. Anticipated meetings next week between police and embassy representatives will address the logistics of returning foreign nationals to their respective countries.

 

This ongoing saga took another twist when the Philippine embassy flagged an individual claiming victim status as a potential human trafficking suspect, underscoring the challenges in distilling truth from deceit in these complex cross-border operations, reported Thai Newsroom

 

-- 2025-02-14

 

 

[jippytum]

Then 99% should be charged and jailed like the criminals they are. Not  given aid and refugee status. 

[flyingtlger]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In a startling revelation, Thai authorities have disclosed that a mere 1% of workers returning from scam centres in Myanmar are genuine victims, with the vast majority reportedly engaging with these criminal operations willingly.

 

I hard this statement hard to believe. 

I think it more like, 99% of the workers were "duped" into working at the scam centers.....

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The criminal syndicates, often run by Chinese nationals, typically employ Thai citizens to establish mule accounts. The illicit operations extend across Cambodia and Laos, thus complicating the network's dismantlement.

Chinese gift to the world.... everything they touch is corrupt.