The Brazilian government has warned that Southeast Asia has become a ‘major hub’ for trafficking Brazilian citizens.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), Brazilian nationals are being lured via social media with false promises of employment in high-paying call centre or technology support roles.
However, once they arrive in countries like Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, victims are being forced into committing various forms of online fraud, including gambling schemes, cryptocurrency scams and fictitious romantic relationships to extort money.
“Even after eventual release, victims may face difficulties returning to Brazil, especially in cases where their visa has expired,” the warning continued. “In which case, it is necessary to obtain authorisation to leave from local immigration authorities, in addition to paying a fine for the period of irregular stay.”
As a result, Itamaraty has recommended that Brazilians do not accept job offers from the regions which promise ‘high earnings, quick hiring or informal intermediation’.
Southeast Asia under the microscope
Brazil adds to the list of countries that have warned or taken action against scam centres in the region.
In October, the UK and US governments issued a joint report that laid out the ‘industrial scale’ of scam centres being used by Southeast Asian gangs to defraud victims of billions of dollars.
As part of the action, the two governments jointly sanctioned several individuals and entities, including Chen Zhi, Founder of the Prince Group, who has since been extradited to China to face charges related to scam centres.
At the time of the enforcement, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Together with our US allies, we are taking decisive action to combat the growing transnational threat posed by this network – upholding human rights, protecting British nationals and keeping dirty money off our streets.”
Since then, arrests in Cambodia have also laid bare the stark reality of the casino scam centres.
Pictures taken by Reuters at a compound in Kampot showed work stations with documents detailing how to scam Thai citizens, studio booths for phone calls and a fake Indian Police Station.
Kampot’s Provincial Chief of Police, Mao Chanmothurith, revealed that between 6,000 and 7,000 workers, many of whom were believed to have been trafficked in by crime groups to take part in the fraud operations, fled the compound in Kampot following the arrest of the alleged leader, Kuong Li.
