UN data shows a growing number of people mostly from Africa and Asia are being trafficked to Myanmar, and forced into online criminal activity. And artificial intelligence is playing a major role in the scam centres.

Naypyidaw

Kenyans, including diploma holders like Duncan Okindo, are being trafficked to Myanmar after accepting job offers abroad, only to find themselves forced to work in scam centres. These operations target individuals with English and tech skills, using AI tools to defraud people, particularly real estate agents in the United States. 

Since the 2021 coup in Myanmar, the number of scam centres has more than doubled, with about 120,000 people trapped in such compounds according to U.N. data. The Kenyan government has repatriated some victims, but with high youth unemployment, many continue to seek opportunities abroad despite the risks.

More Kenyans trafficked to Myanmar scam centres

Duncan Okindo holds a diploma in mass communication, but hasn't been able to find a job at home in Kenya. So when the opportunity to work as a customer service representative in Thailand presented itself in December, he took it without hesitation. He sold his cattle, used up his savings, and even borrowed more money to travel. But he instead was trafficked to Myanmar. The group leader took me through the work, and at a certain point I asked him, what are we doing specifically, yeah, because this is too big, and I don't think all of these people are doing customer service. So he told me, we're here to scam people. The scammers seek targets with English language and tech skills. The job entails defrauding real estate agents in the United States, and AI makes it possible. The chat GPT was to refine your English, because most of the people there don't know English, and also to translate for you. And also it helps you to get information easily. Since the 2021 Myanmar coup, the number of scam centers has surged from 11 to 26. And U.N. data shows about 120,000 people are stuck in these cyber-scam compounds. To stop this, Thailand has repeatedly cut off access to power and fuel from the Thai side of the border. But anti-trafficking organizations say AI is making exploitation easier. The survivors will tell you that they would use AI to change their appearance, so that the person they were extorting would think they are talking to a female, but they're not talking to a female, and they're actually live on, you know, a video call. According to Kenyan government data, around 1.5 million young people are out of work. Most have considered emigrating. Between January and April, the Kenyan government repatriated 175 citizens from Myanmar, including Duncan. But as they rebuild their lives, what they really need is better employment prospects. Greece Korea Kanja, TRT World.

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Breakdown