The entire chain that enables this is disturbing, but fascinating.
For instance, the scammers would need some kind of credibility in the job market before the team-building exercise. Do they just start up new legtimate businesses with new people just for this purpose?
And the SE Asia slave camps need a huge amount of compliance from the locals.
And what happens when none of the employees return from the original country?
> And the SE Asia slave camps need a huge amount of compliance from the locals.
Myanmar is home to like 20 different civil wars. Some of these conflicts ended in ceasefires. The areas that got good ceasefire deals (Wa, Mongla, some "border guard forces" who the military lets do whatever they want in return for allegiance) generally have a high degree autonomy from the Burmese government. So these areas are essentially run by warlords who are accountable to no one because the Burmese government cannot enter these areas. China backs some rebel groups and occasionally puts pressure on them to stop various crimes but they quickly adapt (when China cut internet to Mongla they just started using satellite). These areas are home to the largest meth labs in the world, illegal logging, illegal mining, etc. So they are perfect for criminals as they just have to pay "taxes" to whoever is in power. I read a good book on this: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62141000-stalemate
Some scams are in Cambodia and Laos. The survival of these mostly has to do with corrupt law enforcement. All of the scam victims are either Chinese or in the West so they have even less reason to care.
> For instance, the scammers would need some kind of credibility in the job market before the team-building exercise. Do they just start up new legtimate businesses with new people just for this purpose?
I think it goes something like this: You make $200 a month as a dishwasher in Cambodia. A friend of friend messages you and tells you that you can make $800 a month. Because you are hopeful and want to improve your life you do not thoroughly vet them.
> And what happens when none of the employees return from the original country?
If they are from the region there's usually no record because they are picked up by an "agent" and go through a series of illegal border crossings.
This seems like an important point. Either this element is being exaggerated, or some aspect of their society itself is enabling this at a fairly deep level.
People who need a job apply to new start-up companies all the time. The scammers can just start a new company every few months. All they need a rented office.
For instance, the scammers would need some kind of credibility in the job market before the team-building exercise. Do they just start up new legtimate businesses with new people just for this purpose?
And the SE Asia slave camps need a huge amount of compliance from the locals.
And what happens when none of the employees return from the original country?