In a massive operation targeting transnational online fraud centers near its borders, the Myanmar military has reportedly rescued hundreds of foreign nationals, including 38 Pakistani citizens, who were held captive and forced to work in scam call centers.
The individuals were lured to Southeast Asia with the promise of high-paying jobs, only to be detained and exploited by organized cyber fraud mafias operating across the region.
The Thai Army successfully rescued the 38 Pakistani nationals after crossing the Myanmar border and transferred them to the Bangkok Immigration Center. They are currently awaiting phased deportation back to Pakistan.
In an official communication to Pakistan, the Thai government revealed that an additional 60 Pakistani citizens, who managed to escape the fraud centers, are currently housed in local shelters and are also scheduled for repatriation.
Thai authorities have urged their Pakistani counterparts to conduct thorough investigations of the deported individuals to dismantle the networks of unscrupulous agents responsible for human trafficking. The Thai government also suggested placing the names of the deported Pakistanis on the Exit Control List (ECL) for five years.
In response, officials from Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed that countries like Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia have become major hubs for online fraud. The scammers use online platforms to advertise fake jobs in call centers, tempting vulnerable youth. The FIA warned that once youths arrive on work visas, they are often imprisoned, tortured, and forced into illegal operations. The agency strictly advised Pakistani citizens against accepting online job offers and work visas that seem too good to be true in these countries.
