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Friday, 14th February 2025

Thailand And China Unite To Tackle Rising Scam Call Networks

By Rupa Das -
  • Updated
  • :
  • 24th January 2025,
  • 6:16 PM

Thailand and China have announced a joint effort to dismantle illegal scam call centres operating along the Thai border with Myanmar and Cambodia. These call centres, often staffed by trafficked workers, aim to deceive people through phone and online scams. The move comes in response to the alarming rise in telecom fraud in Southeast Asia, particularly in border areas since the COVID-19 pandemic. A new coordination centre will be set up in Bangkok at Thailand’s national police headquarters. Chinese authorities will also establish a similar centre in Mae Sot, a […]

Thailand And China Unite To Tackle Rising Scam Call Networks

Thailand And China Unite To Tackle Rising Scam Call Networks

Thailand and China have announced a joint effort to dismantle illegal scam call centres operating along the Thai border with Myanmar and Cambodia. These call centres, often staffed by trafficked workers, aim to deceive people through phone and online scams. The move comes in response to the alarming rise in telecom fraud in Southeast Asia, particularly in border areas since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new coordination centre will be set up in Bangkok at Thailand’s national police headquarters. Chinese authorities will also establish a similar centre in Mae Sot, a town near Myanmar’s Myawaddy, which is a key hub for these fraudulent operations. The centres will work together to investigate and combat the scam networks. The centre in Bangkok is expected to begin operations in February 2025.

According to UN, Southeast Asia, particularly borders of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, has become significant area for online scams. These fraud networks have flourished since the pandemic, with hundreds of thousands of people trafficked into scam centres. Many workers, often from different countries, are lured into these centres under false pretenses, only to be subjected to harsh conditions and forced to participate in criminal activities.

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Rising Public Pressure In Thailand

In Thailand, public demand for action against the scam centres has been growing. Workers are often trapped in these centres, and reports of abuse are widespread. The Thai government has faced increasing pressure to address the issue. Both Thai and Chinese authorities are now taking steps to tackle the networks responsible for this growing problem.

China’s Growing Concerns

China has expressed growing concern over the issue, especially after the dramatic rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing. Wang was kidnapped and held in Myanmar before being rescued. The incident has highlighted the severity of the problem and led to further diplomatic discussions on eradicating these fraud networks.

In recent days, high-level meetings have taken place between officials from Thailand, Myanmar, and China to discuss solutions. These discussions include efforts to shut down telecom fraud centres in Myanmar. Thai and Myanmar military representatives also met this week to discuss coordinated action against human trafficking and online scams.

Myanmar authorities have claimed responsibility for sending back over 55,000 foreign nationals, including 53,000 Chinese, from scam centres between October 2023 and January 2025. Despite this, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai rejected claims that neighbouring countries supported these criminal operations. He stressed that the issue requires cooperation from Myanmar, China, and Thailand.

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International Efforts To Combat Scams

The Thai-China collaboration represents an important step in fighting these international fraud networks. With the establishment of the coordination centres and ongoing regional cooperation, there is hope that these criminal operations will soon face a serious crackdown.

This joint effort reflects the growing urgency to address the human trafficking and fraud issues plaguing Southeast Asia’s borders, marking a significant moment in international law enforcement cooperation.

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