United Nations News/Daniel·Dickinson

Scam centers like Manila can accommodate hundreds of staff members.

thisstoryOne version was originally published by the United Nations in the Philippines.

Pasay City, Manila, Philippines

Thirty six hours. Last year, after a raid on the headquarters of an online fraud center in downtown Manila, the police could only make charges within this brief period of time.

“How could you be here36Proving cybercrime within hours? It's impossible;We were in a state of emergency at that time,“This former president's Anti Organized Crime Committee（PAOCC）The action director said.“We had to make a last-minute response, and as a result, we were charged with human trafficking——It's much easier to prove when you find hundreds of foreigners trapped at the base.”

Thanks to the United Nations Organization on Drugs and Crime（UNODC）Support, as of this week,PAOCCWe have established standard operating procedures and internal policies, developed a rights based and victim centered strategy, and implemented a ban on Philippine offshore gambling operators（POGO）Under the new regulations, these institutions are often used as cover for fraud centers operated by criminal groups. These programs are4moon22The document was signed at an official high-level ceremony held in Manila, including the repatriation of victims, collection of witness statements and evidence, detention of suspected criminals, and asset recovery.

United Nations Philippines/Gaillard·Xintai

Executive Secretary Ralph·Rektor (second from the right)PAOCCBenjamin, the person in charge·Akuda II (far left), Amir, National Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime·Del·Rosario (second from left) and Elaine, a project officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime·Victoria·Lawyer Dayangjilang (far right) is signing the "Standard Operating Procedures for Implementing the Anti Fraud Center" at the ceremony.

PAOCCBenjamin, Executive Director·C·Acoda stated:“This significant measure reflects our common determination to strengthen cross institutional coordination, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen national frameworks to address organized and transnational crime.”“Through this enduring partnership, we continue to build institutions that are responsive, cohesive, and firmly rooted in principles of justice and the rule of law.”

United Nations News/Daniel·Dickinson

Abandoned workstation of an online fraud center in Manila.

In the past five years, SoutheastMultiple countries in AsiaLike mushrooms after rain, including the Philippines. They deceive people from other countries through false promises of glamorous jobs and force them to engage in online fraud. Men and women from the region and beyond are recruited into these bases under false pretexts, leaving many trapped in coercion, debt, surveillance, violence, and fear. Victims are not allowed to leave the campus, and if they fail to meet the quota, they will be subjected to extortion or even torture.

Women face special risks in these courtyards. These criminal networks are increasingly targeting women——Utilize their hopes and despair for a better life and more meager wages than in their own country. The woman was subsequently detained in a dark room for an online dating project. If they fail to fulfill their promises, they are forced to engage in sex work, serving managers and male workers in the hospital area, which also includes gambling tables and karaoke barsOKThe use of these places ensures that the majority of the income of trapped workers is used to enrich the operators of fraud centers, ultimately leading to debt. Male and other workers also suffer from abuse, forced labor, debt bondage, and corporal punishment, especially when they fail to meet fraud quotas.

Executive Secretary Ralph·G·Rekto（Ralph G. Recto）Previously stated:“POGOThe income they claim to generate can never prove the legitimacy of the lawlessness, exploitation, and social corruption they leave behind,”He was once2024When he served as the Minister of Finance in, he suggested to the President to banPOGO。“This directive was the first crucial step in dismantling an industry that promised to bring lucrative income and employment, but in reality it only caused immense pain to countless Filipinos.”

so farPAOCCReleased5,949People, including3,483Famous foreigner. Currently there are218The perpetrator is awaiting trial.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime/Laura·Jill

Susan was sold to a scam farm in Myanmar.

The fraud center located in Pasay city is only a few hundred meters away from the embassy, government departments, and city hall. Afterwards, it has been renovated intoPAOCCHeadquarters. In the past, criminal leaders commanded illegal actions, while investigators are now committed to exposing andPogoAnd other crimes related to network planning. Part of the courtyard has been preserved, including the former entertainment area, game hall, and torture chamber, allowing visitors to clearly experience what happened here until a year ago. Part of the venue is now under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development（DSWD）“No one is hungry”Kitchen, daily available approximately700People use it.

“The Philippines has shown that it takes this threat seriously,”Amiel from the Philippines Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime·Del·Rosario said.“The online fraud center flows across borders, adapts quickly, and is often associated with other abusive behaviors, including human trafficking. Countries need response measures that match this reality,UNODCPromise to support this effort.”

2025year12Month,UNODCOrganized police and immigration officials from various Southeast Asian countries to visit the center and learn from itPAOCCThe experience. The exchange in this region is funded by the European Union.

According to United Nations estimatesAt least Southeast Asia has30Ten thousand people work in fraud centers——Including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and other countries.

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime2024year12Passed by the United Nations General Assembly, this is the first globally legally binding treaty specifically designed to combat digital crime. It serves as a dismantling fraud center——Especially the scam centers in Southeast Asia——An important tool that provides a universal framework to classify online fraud and technology driven organized crime as crimes. The treaty strengthens the crackdown on these criminal groups by establishing a rapid international cooperation network and enforcing standardized collection and sharing of electronic evidence. This simplified collaboration is crucial for tracking cross-border financial fraud and human trafficking related to forced labor in fraud centers.

The Philippines has already transitioned fromPOGOAs a potential source of income for the country, it has come a long way to hunt down fraudsters who operate these institutions.“No country can deal with this problem alone,”Del·Ms. Rosario said.“These networks operate across jurisdictions and exploit weak coordination between authorities. This makes international cooperation indispensable.”