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Foreign Scam Victims (500+) Sold in DKBA Karen Territory, Public Concerned

Foreign Scam Victims (500+) Sold in DKBA Karen Territory, Public Concerned

Matichon•Society•9d ago

Reader Briefing

Over 500 foreign scam victims, primarily in DKBA Karen territory, are reportedly being sold to other locations while seeking aid from embassies and civil society organizations.

  • •Over 500 foreign nationals, victims and participants of online scams, are reportedly held and being sold in the DKBA Karen territory in Myanmar, opposite Thailand's Tak province.
  • •These victims, including Filipino, Taiwanese, and Chinese nationals, are seeking assistance from their home embassies and civil society networks.
  • •Thai authorities, through the National Police's IT Crime Suppression Center and UNODC task force, are working to facilitate their rescue and repatriation.
  • •Some employer companies are refusing to release victims or cease criminal activities, with attempts to sell victims to other online operators.
  • •Thai authorities have successfully repatriated three individuals (Russian and Nepali) via the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.

Overview

  • •Over 500 foreign nationals are trapped as victims of online scams in the DKBA Karen territory and are reportedly being sold to other locations, causing public concern.
  • •The situation involves foreign victims of call center gangs and online criminal activities operating within Chinese project areas in Myawaddy, Myanmar, opposite Thailand's Tak province.
  • •Victims are continuously seeking assistance from their embassies and civil society organizations, highlighting their desperate situation.
  • •The Thai National Police, specifically the IT Crime Suppression Center and a UNODC task force, are involved in efforts to rescue and assist these foreign nationals.
  • •Some employing companies are reportedly refusing to release victims or cease their fraudulent activities, leading to ongoing challenges.
  • •Efforts are underway by Thai authorities to facilitate the rescue and repatriation of these foreign victims.
  • •On May 6, 2026, news emerged regarding the plight of over 500 foreign scam victims in the DKBA Karen territory facing potential sale to other areas.
  • •Thai authorities have successfully repatriated three individuals (Russian and Nepali) from the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge (Second Section), resulting in their return to their home countries.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Entities

Organization

Public Sector(ภาคปชช.)
The public sector expressing concerns regarding foreign scam victims.
Call Center Gangs(แก๊งคอล)
Criminal organizations involved in online scams targeting foreign nationals.
DKBA Karen(กะเหรี่ยงดีเคบีเอ.)
An ethnic armed group controlling territory in Myanmar where foreign scam victims are allegedly held and sold.
Civil Society Organizations(องค์กรภาคประชาชน)
Gauges of civil society organizations assisting foreign scam victims in their situations.
Coordinating Organization of Civil Society Networks to Help Trafficking Victims(องค์กรประสานงานเครือข่ายภาคประชาสังคมเพื่อช่วยเหลือเหยื่อค้ามนุษย์)
A civil society network that has received requests for assistance from foreign scam victims.
Chinese Companies(บริษัทชาวจีน)
Companies employing foreign nationals and allegedly involved in scam operations and potential trafficking.
IT Crime Suppression Center, Royal Thai Police(ศูนย์ปราบปรามอาชญากรรมทางเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)
The Thai police unit tasked with combating cybercrime and assisting in the rescue of foreign scam victims.
Special Operations Center for the Suppression of Technology Crimes and Human Trafficking Affecting National Security in Border Areas with Neighboring Countries(ศูนย์ปฏิบัติการเฉพาะกิจปราบปรามอาชญากรรมทางเทคโนโลยีและการค้ามนุษย์ที่ส่งผลกระทบต่อความมั่นคงในพื้นที่ชายแดนกับประเทศเพื่อนบ้าน)
A specialized task force within the Thai police focused on cross-border cybercrime and human trafficking.
UNODCℹ️
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, involved in combating transnational crime, including cybercrime and human trafficking.
Local Employer Companies(บริษัทนายจ้างในพื้นที่)
Companies operating in the conflict zone that are reportedly refusing to release victims and continue fraudulent activities.
Thai Authorities(ทางการไทย)
The collective government bodies in Thailand working to address the situation of foreign scam victims.
Ratchamanu Task Force(หน่วยเฉพาะกิจราชมนู)
A special task force based in Mae Sot that facilitated the repatriation of foreign nationals.

Place

Mae Sot District, Tak Province(อําเภอแม่สอด จังหวัดตาก)ℹ️
The Thai border district opposite Myawaddy, Myanmar, where the situation of foreign scam victims is being monitored.
Chinese Project Areas(โครงการจีนฯ)
Locations in Myanmar, specifically in Myawaddy, associated with Chinese business operations where online criminal activities are occurring.
Myawaddy Township, Myawaddy District, Kayin State, Myanmar(อ.เมียวดี จ.เมียวดี รัฐกะเหรี่ยง ประเทศเมียนมา)ℹ️
The primary location in Myanmar where foreign scam victims are reportedly held and exploited.
Mae Ramat District(อ.แม่ระมาด)ℹ️
A district in Tak Province, Thailand, bordering Myanmar, relevant to the cross-border criminal activities.
Phop Phra District(อ.พบพระ)ℹ️
A district in Tak Province, Thailand, bordering Myanmar, where the situation of foreign scam victims is being monitored.
China Thaichang 1 Project(โครงการจีนไถ่ฉาง 1)
A specific Chinese project area within the DKBA Karen influence zone, where foreign victims were reportedly working.
Chong Khaep Village(บ้านช่องแคบ)
A location in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand, near the border, mentioned in relation to the Chinese project area.
Chong Khaep Sub-district(ตำบลช่องแคบ)
A sub-district in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand, adjacent to the area where foreign scam victims are located.
Nepal(เนปาล)ℹ️
A country whose nationals were among those successfully repatriated by Thai authorities.
Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge (Second Section)(สะพานมิตรภาพไทย – เมียนมา (แห่งที่ 2))
The border crossing point used for the repatriation of Russian and Nepali nationals.
Ban Wang Takhian Tai(บ้านวังตะเคียนใต้)
A village in Tha Sai Luat sub-district, Mae Sot district, where the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is located.
Village No. 7(หมู่ที่ 7)
A specific enumeration within Ban Wang Takhian Tai, Mae Sot District.
Tha Sai Luat Sub-district(ตำบลท่าสายลวด)
A sub-district in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand, where the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is situated.

Person

Filipino Nationals(ชาวฟิลิปปินส์)
One nationality among the foreign victims of online scams held in Myanmar.
Taiwanese Nationals(คนไต้หวัน)
One nationality among the foreign victims of online scams held in Myanmar.
Chinese Nationals(คนจีน)
A significant group among the foreign victims of online scams held in Myanmar.
Ms. J Krittiya(นางสาวเจ กฤติญา)
The coordinator of the civil society network who sought assistance for the foreign victims.
Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot(พล.ต.อ.ธัชชัย ปิตะนีละบุตร)
Director of the National Police's IT Crime Suppression Center, coordinating efforts to help foreign scam victims.
Russian Nationals(บุคคลสัญชาติรัสเซีย)
Individuals of Russian nationality who were repatriated by the Ratchamanu Task Force.

Title

Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police(จเรตำรวจแห่งชาติ)
The official title held by Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, who is involved in combating cybercrime and human trafficking.
Head of the UNODC Task Force Against Call Center Crimes and Human Trafficking(หัวหน้าหน่วยเฉพาะกิจต่อต้านอาชญากรรมคอลเซ็นเตอร์และการค้ามนุษย์ UNODC.)
The leader of a UNODC task force involved in combating cybercrime and human trafficking in the border region.