Taiwan has officially classified Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos as high-risk destinations due to their role in hosting fraudulent operations, the Ministry of Interior announced last week.
The move came amid growing concerns over Taiwanese citizens being lured to these countries to work in scam centers.
In an effort to curb the issue, the ministry said that travelers heading to these destinations would see warnings printed on their electronic tickets.
Taiwanese travelers are advised to download a travel safety app, which has been available since 2022, to enhance personal security and receive updated travel advisories.
Over recent years, multiple incidents have been reported of Taiwanese citizens being deceived into traveling to Cambodia or Myanmar under false job promises, only to be coerced into working for fraud syndicates.
This month, Myanmar authorities released 260 foreign workers from a scam center, including seven Taiwanese nationals. The individuals were subsequently interviewed by Thai police before their expected repatriation.
The crackdown on scam operations has gained momentum in the region. More than 250 individuals from 20 different countries, who had been working in telecom fraud centers in Myanmar’s Karen State, were recently freed by an ethnic armed group and brought to Thailand.
Thai authorities are currently assessing the individuals to determine whether they were victims of human trafficking.
In a related development, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, pledging to dismantle scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border.
The Thai government has since cut power and fuel supplies to suspected scam hubs while tightening banking and visa regulations to prevent syndicates from using the country as a transit point.
The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), one of the armed factions controlling parts of Karen State, facilitated the release of the 260 workers.
These groups have been accused of sheltering scam operations in their territories. Reports indicate that certain factions have begun expelling scam businesses following mounting pressure from neighboring countries, including Thailand and China.
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation sought arrest warrants for three commanders of the Karen National Army, including warlord Saw Chit Thu.
He had previously entered an agreement in 2017 with a Chinese company to establish Shwe Kokko, a city allegedly funded by scam operations. While the developers claim no illicit activity remains, local reports suggest otherwise.
Public sentiment in Thailand largely supports the government’s firm stance against scam centers. A recent survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that 70.54% of respondents backed the decision to cut off electricity and internet access to suspected scam zones.
Meanwhile, 69.85% of those surveyed believed some Thai officials were complicit in the operations.
