392 Nepalis rescued from online scam centers in Thailand–Myanmar border, Hundreds still await evacuation

KATHMANDU: At least 392 Nepali nationals have been rescued from transnational online scam networks operating along the Thailand–Myanmar border and in Cambodia, as authorities intensify diplomatic and legal efforts to dismantle organized cybercrime syndicates targeting vulnerable migrant workers.

According to the , Nepali embassies in Thailand and Myanmar have facilitated the rescue of 392 victims since 2022 in coordination with host governments. However, an additional 309 Nepalis are currently undergoing rescue and repatriation procedures, with officials warning that the actual number of those trapped in scam compounds could run into the thousands.

Lured by Fake Job Offers, Forced into Cybercrime

The victims—many with prior foreign employment experience in the UAE, Malaysia, and other destinations—were reportedly lured by brokers promising high-paying IT and online jobs. Upon arrival, they were trafficked to scam compounds run by organized criminal groups engaged in:

• Online dating fraud
• Online casino and gaming scams
• Phishing and identity theft
• Cryptocurrency fraud and digital asset scams
• Financial cyber extortion

Officials say victims were forced to meet daily scam targets. Failure to do so resulted in physical abuse, psychological torture, financial exploitation, and false criminal accusations. Passports were confiscated, movement was restricted, and families were often extorted for large ransom payments.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri confirmed that many victims were held hostage until they either paid significant sums or recruited replacements.

Myanmar Court Sentences 18 Nepalis

In a related development, a Myanmar court has sentenced 18 Nepali nationals to one year imprisonment for illegal entry. Nepal’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Harish Chandra Ghimire, has initiated diplomatic engagement with Myanmar authorities to address the legal and humanitarian aspects of the case.

The ministry acknowledged that several scam centers operate in territories beyond effective government control—particularly in armed-group controlled zones near the Thai–Myanmar border—making rescue operations highly complex.

Rescue Process: Delays and Funding Constraints

Prakash Adhikari, Chief of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Division at the Foreign Ministry, explained that once victims establish contact with Nepali missions, embassies formally request rescue assistance through the host country’s foreign ministry.

After completion of local legal procedures, victims are typically repatriated to Nepal via Bangkok. However, limited financial resources, airfare costs, and bureaucratic delays often slow the process.

Unlike countries such as India, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam—which reportedly deploy embassy officials directly to border regions for expedited rescue—Nepal often relies on local Nepali community networks and Non-Resident Nepali associations for coordination, further prolonging response times.

Growing Calls for Investigation After Repatriation

Internationally, several countries have reportedly detained and investigated repatriated individuals to determine whether they were solely victims or complicit actors within scam operations.

In Nepal’s case, there is growing concern that some returnees may have acquired technical knowledge of scam systems and could potentially engage in online fraud from within Nepal. Stakeholders are calling for structured screening, cybercrime investigation, and legal scrutiny under Nepal’s digital fraud and anti-trafficking frameworks.

Travel Advisory and High-Risk Destinations

The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly issued travel advisories warning against fraudulent recruitment offers and urging strict compliance with foreign employment regulations.

Authorities have advised Nepalis to:

• Obtain proper labor approval before foreign employment
• Verify whether Nepal has formal labor agreements with destination countries
• Avoid traveling on visit visas for employment purposes
• Refrain from trusting brokers offering “high-salary digital jobs”

Officials stressed that many intermediaries are directly or indirectly linked to organized cybercrime syndicates operating scam compounds across Southeast Asia.

Regional Cybercrime Hub Expanding

Security analysts note that Southeast Asia’s scam centers—particularly in Myanmar’s conflict-affected regions, parts of Laos, and Cambodia—have evolved into major hubs of global financial cybercrime, generating billions of dollars annually through crypto fraud, phishing scams, and online extortion.

Nepal’s growing exposure to these transnational digital fraud networks highlights the intersection of labor migration risks, human trafficking, cybercrime, and weak regulatory enforcement.

With hundreds still awaiting rescue and thousands potentially trapped, authorities face mounting pressure to strengthen diplomatic coordination, expand rescue funding, tighten cybercrime investigation mechanisms, and dismantle the domestic recruitment pipelines feeding these criminal enterprises.