FREEDOM COLLABORATIVE DATA SPOTLIGHT

TRAFFICKING FOR FORCED CRIMINALITY

Empowering action with civil society
data and frontline evidence

In Southeast Asia, trafficking in persons for forced criminality, notably associated with online scams and financial fraud, has emerged as a significant concern. This trend is particularly prevalent in Special Economic Zones and other areas of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and other destination countries. The UNODC's 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons has highlighted a significant increase in the identification of such cases, accounting for 10.2% of all reported trafficking cases worldwide. In March 2024, Interpol declared the issue a mounting global crisis warning that organized crime rings have expanded globally, generating $2-3 trillion annually.

Civil society organizations are the main responders on the ground, and their efforts are invaluable in providing assistance to victims, raising awareness, and advocating for policy changes. Freedom Collaborative is supporting their efforts by facilitating information sharing and coordination through a dedicated working group and by bringing together data across frontline agencies.

The following analysis is based on data contributed by our civil society partners, aimed at supporting a collaborative, evidence-based response. We extend our gratitude to Winrock International's USAID Cambodia CTIP Project for their generous support of this initiative.

Do you have questions or data to contribute? We value collaboration and welcome your insights, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.

PART 1 The Scope of the Problem

Freedom Collaborative has worked with civil society partners since 2019 to gather a global dataset on human trafficking and exploitation activity. Looking at our available information, we can see that the first documented cases of forced online scamming submitted to us date back to 2022. Since then, we have observed a significant increase in the percentage of online scamming as the industry of exploitation within the cases that our civil society partners in Asia work on.

Percentage Breakdown of Exploitation Industries Reported by Civil Society Partners in Asia Per Year

In practice, service providers and other civil society organizations are still adapting to these new case types. The complexity demands new expertise, strategies, and partnerships, which is challenging for organizations that typically work under significant constraints, including limited resources such as funding, staff, and infrastructure. Information sharing and coordination support are, therefore, key mechanisms to help organizations fill knowledge gaps and be resource-efficient.

PART 2 Origins and Destinations

This map visualizes the locations of origin for victims of trafficking for forced criminality identified in the submissions made to us so far.

Locations of Origin for Victims of Trafficking for Forced Criminality Based on Current Data Submissions

It is fair to say that this data—currently—cannot be seen as comprehensive.

The data gaps are due to two main reasons:

1. Our dataset relies on civil society organizations recording and sharing this specific information.

2. Even if civil society contributions increase, they can only submit data from cases they have worked on. Inherently, not all victims may have been identified or in touch with an organization, and/or certain nationality groups are primarily handled by a different responding agency, such as law enforcement, embassies, and others.

Based on information shared in our working group, the origin countries and nationalities of victims mentioned include Sri Lankans, Filipinos, Chinese, Cambodians, Malaysians, Thais, Indians, Vietnamese, and Indonesians, Kenyans, Ugandans, Ethiopians, Eastern Africans, and South Africans, Russians and Europeans.

Within our dataset, Vietnamese victims from various provinces across the country are identified to have migrated to work in various compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.

Locations of Origin and Destination Countries for Victims of Trafficking for Forced Criminality from Vietnam Based on Current Data Submissions

Similarly, within our dataset, victims from Laos, originating from various provinces across the country, are documented to have migrated for work to Cambodia, China, Myanmar, and Thailand, as well as within Laos to other provinces.

Locations of Origin and Destination Countries for Victims of Trafficking for Forced Criminality from Laos Based on Current Data Submissions

Originally primarily a source country, Laos has also evolved into a destination country, with victims from other nations migrating to Laos, particularly its special economic zones.

Locations of Origin and Destinations in Laos for Victims of Trafficking for Forced Criminality Based on Current Data Submissions

Given the existing constraints on resources and infrastructure, the transition from being a source to also being a destination country introduces additional layers of complexity to any response in Laos.

Please note that we lack sufficient detailed data to present a similar country-level analysis for other countries, and will add to this dashboard as new data becomes available. If you are interested in collaborating, please get in touch.

The below map below offers an overview of the final destinations for victims of trafficking for forced criminality, based on our received submissions. Though not exhaustive, it highlights hotspots and high-risk areas.

Destination Locations for Victims of Trafficking for Forced Criminality Based on Current Data Submissions

PART 3 Victim Demographics

The following displays demographic data commonly recorded by organizations for each case.

Nationalities of Victims Trafficked for Forced Criminality Based on Current Data Submissions

Nationalities

Victims of trafficking for forced criminality from an increasing number of nationalities have been identified. Please note that the nationalities reflected in our dataset indicate the number of submissions received, rather than necessarily representing the highest trafficked nationality.

Gender of Victims Trafficked for Forced Criminality Based on Current Data Submissions

Gender

Victims of both genders have been identified as trafficked for forced criminality, with a higher number of males than females. While this may reflect an overall trend, please consider that the data is influenced by our access and general victim identification practices.

Age of Victims Trafficked for Forced Criminality Based on Current Data Submissions

Age

The majority of victims are adults aged between 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 years respectively, but increasing numbers of cases involve teenagers under 18 and victims over 40 and 50. Once again, it's important to note that this data may not be entirely accurate.

PART 4 Closing the Response Gap

We are witnessing a significant rise in trafficking for forced criminality, as evidenced by the increasing caseload in relation to victims trapped in cyber scam operations and reports from our civil society partners across Southeast Asia and beyond. However, response efforts are not keeping pace with the growing scale of the issue.

Given the evolving nature and the gap between need and response, solid evidence and data are important to support effective decision-making and resource allocation, as well as to understand the full scope of the situation. In addition, many strategies to address this specific type of trafficking rely heavily on recorded and shared case details, such as conducting anti-money laundering investigations that would lead to seizing assets and denying access to the international financial system.

Supporting our working group members and other civil society partners across the region and beyond taught us that while they are experts on the issue and possess valuable information, they do not record this data in a way that can be easily shared. In practice, organizations' case forms and case management systems have not yet been adapted to collect the type of evidence needed for financial investigations and more detailed analysis.

While we are firmly committed to supporting this crucial effort, building the necessary infrastructure and providing comprehensive support for the organizations on the ground is a substantial undertaking. This includes not only developing standardized data collection tools but also training, technical assistance, and acknowledging the time commitment required for data entry. Therefore, achieving this goal requires a shared commitment from many stakeholders.

We welcome the expertise and insights of individuals and organizations interested in collaborating on this project. Please don't hesitate to reach out, as we believe in the power of collective effort to address these challenges effectively.

Dashboard by Freedom Collaborative.

This initiative is supported by the USAID Cambodia Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Project implemented by Winrock International, a five-year activity (2021-2026) that advances a broad, multidisciplinary approach to strengthening responses to Cambodia’s diverse forms of human trafficking.

This data dashboard is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The content is the responsibility of Freedom Collaborative, Inc. and does not necessarily represent the views of USAID or the U.S. Government.