In brief
This report details the plight of victims like Fisher, an Ethiopian man lured into a cyber fraud ring in Myanmar where resistance leads to torture.
In a grim revelation of human trafficking, tens of thousands of individuals from across the globe have become caught in the web of a malicious cyberfraud industry operating in Myanmar. The lure of lucrative job offers in what is purportedly a modern and vibrant job market has led many into a harrowing reality. Fisher, a 27-year-old Ethiopian with a background in electrical engineering, followed the promise of a better life after his father sold their family farmland to finance his journey to Thailand.His optimism soon dissipated as he discovered the truth behind the façade. An eight-hour car ride ended not in a thriving metropolis, but on the banks of a river, from where he was transferred clandestinely into Myanmar. In a country riddled with conflict and controlled by criminal syndicates, Fisher found himself in a harsh environment where he and others were coerced into committing cybercrimes.Assigned to a room with other victims, Fisher was thrust into the world of scamming, armed with nothing but a computer and pressure to perform. His refusal to comply resulted in brutal punishment, including being tied in a crucifixion pose in a torture chamber, a harrowing experience shared by numerous victims. This ongoing tragedy underscores the brutal realities of modern slavery, where victims are manipulated and abused while being forced to scam others, highlighting a global crisis that demands urgent attention and action.
