KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is not a scam superpower, but a scam victim nation, says lawyer and human rights advocate Michelle Yesudas, who warned that thousands of Malaysians are being manipulated, trafficked, or digitally exploited by criminal syndicates operating along the Myanmar border.
Appearing on the Scoop Insight podcast, Michelle said Malaysians are being actively targeted by transnational networks running scam call centres in areas plagued by conflict, corruption, and lawlessness — particularly in Myanmar.
“We are not just dealing with syndicates. We’re dealing with a well-oiled industry that thrives on human trafficking, cybercrime, and the collapse of law and order in conflict zones like Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko,” she said.
She warned that many Malaysians remain unaware that a digital war is being waged across the region — one where algorithms are the weapons, and people are the victims.
“We think war is just bombs and bullets. But today, a war can look like your child being scammed into working at a fake call centre in a conflict zone,” she said.
Michelle, who has worked with refugee and trafficking survivors along the Thailand-Myanmar border, said the lawlessness in eastern Myanmar has created a perfect storm for scam operations.
The region has become a hub for trafficking rings that force their victims to become online scammers — often under the threat of violence or detention.
“The Myanmar government has no control over that side of the border. So these syndicates — often from China — move in and operate with impunity. They traffic workers, force them to scam, and punish them if they don’t meet targets,” she explained.
More Malaysians, she added, are falling victim — lured through fake job ads or groomed online via dating apps, gaming platforms, and encrypted messaging channels.
“There are Malaysians trapped in these scam compounds. Some were promised jobs in customer service or tech. When they arrived, they were locked up, had their passports confiscated, and were forced to scam others,” she said.
Michelle also highlighted the growing prevalence of “pig-butchering” scams — emotionally manipulative schemes where victims are groomed into romantic relationships before being duped into investing in fake platforms or travelling overseas.
“It’s digital manipulation. It’s not about being gullible — it’s about being systematically emotionally exploited,” she said.
She warned that even viral rescue videos or missing persons content on TikTok and Instagram may be used by the syndicates to generate social media buzz or lure in new victims.
Despite mounting evidence of trafficking and scam-related abuse, Malaysia’s public awareness and policy response remain dangerously inadequate, she said.
“There is a massive gap in our digital literacy. There are no national campaigns warning people about fake job offers. Nothing in schools. Very little in the media,” Michelle said.
“We don’t even have strong protective mechanisms for Malaysians travelling abroad. There’s no hotline. No embassy checklist. Nothing.”
She also criticised the government’s failure to treat the scam economy as a national security threat — even as citizens continue to be trafficked, tortured, and forced into illegal cybercrime operations abroad.
“This is not just a cybercrime issue — it’s trafficking, it’s modern slavery. But we’re still acting like it’s just people being conned online,” she said.
The rise of scam compounds across Southeast Asia — particularly in the Golden Triangle region where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet — has drawn alarm from international NGOs, regional authorities, and the United Nations.
But Malaysia’s response remains fragmented and ineffective, Michelle said.
“We don’t have a regional strategy. We’re not part of international coalitions tackling this. And even when victims return, they’re often unsupported — punished or stigmatised instead,” she said.
“People assume that if you were caught in a scam compound, you must have been greedy. But these people were lied to, manipulated, and trafficked. They’re victims, not criminals.”
She urged the government to launch a national awareness campaign, improve protections for overseas jobseekers, and strengthen diplomatic efforts to locate and rescue Malaysians trapped abroad.
“This is a war Malaysia didn’t start. But we’re losing it — because we’re not fighting back,” she said.
Catch the full interview on Sport Check via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms from August 8. — August 7, 2025