Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, recently addressed the General Assembly during an informal meeting. In his statement, Türk expressed concern about the rise in criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals, such as migrants and refugees, for engaging in illegal activities online.
Aug. 29 (UPI) — The United Nations released a report on Tuesday highlighting the alarming trend of organized criminal gangs utilizing the Internet to ensnare victims, particularly those who are vulnerable, like migrants and refugees, into participating in various unlawful acts. These acts range from romance-investment scams to cryptocurrency fraud and gambling. The victims not only face threats and violence but also endure torture, cruel treatment, arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and forced labor.
“Coerced individuals forced to engage in criminal operations endure inhumane treatment,” emphasized Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. “They are victims and should not be treated as criminals.
“While advocating for justice for those defrauded through online criminality, we must remember that this complex issue has two sets of victims.”
The prevalence of these scams makes it challenging to determine the exact number of individuals impacted due to their clandestine nature and inadequate official responses. However, it is estimated that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and another 100,000 in Cambodia may be held under such exploitative conditions.
According to the report, scamming is a highly profitable global industry, with revenues of $7.8 billion worth of stolen cryptocurrency reported in 2021 alone. In Southeast Asia, scam centers are said to generate billions of dollars in revenue.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of entertainment venues have pushed many into underground operations for survival in Southeast Asia.
“With the closure of casinos in response to public health measures, operators have shifted their operations to less regulated spaces, including conflict-affected border areas, special economic zones, and the increasingly lucrative online domain,” the report explained.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
