Thailand, China Launch Coordination Centres Against Scam Call Networks

Thailand and China are collaborating to combat illegal call centres operating along the Thai border with Myanmar and Cambodia, which are involved in extensive phone and online scams. A new coordination centre will be established in Bangkok, while Chinese authorities will set up another in Mae Sot, targeting scam networks that exploit trafficked workers. The United Nations has reported a marked increase in telecom fraud and human trafficking in Southeast Asia since the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent high-profile incidents, including the abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, have heightened concerns about the treatment of victims in these centres. Law enforcement from multiple Mekong River nations, including Thailand and China, have pledged to strengthen their efforts against these criminal operations, with significant arrests already made. The coordinated operations are expected to evolve further in 2025, aiming to dismantle the networks and rescue trapped individuals.