SOUTHEAST ASIAN SCAM COMPOUNDS
RESEARCH
DATABASE
2024
Dear friends, this subject matter covers sensitive material
please be advised!
Hello again, and welcome to:
Southeast Asian Scam Compounds Research Database 2024
The emerging phenomenon of cyber slavery and scam compounds in Southeast Asia represents a disturbing evolution of modern slavery, combining human trafficking, forced labor, and cyber-enabled fraud. This transnational crime exploits global vulnerabilities, with victims worldwide falling prey to scams and money laundering schemes [1].
Source type categories include:
As researchers, it's important to go back in time and read how this crisis unfolded while living in the present, meticulously documenting how quickly this situation has expanded with seemingly no signs of slowing down. This is very alarming because a large portion of global cybercrime originates from within these areas.
People are in need of rescue is an understatement; raising awareness is of the utmost importance. Initially I lost my footing on this project... I planned, collected, processed, analyzed and over consumed the material hitting research paralysis effectively compartmentalizing what I had learned. In fact, xxCLI was later developed because of cascading effects from the research experience [2].
Cyber slaves its international criminal nexus point... I created this online research room as one productive way to store and disseminate a centralized critical collection of open-sources covering this topic [3]. As a part of the research area at cyb3rjc.com, content is for awareness and educative purposes as aid when studying or interested in studying this topic... Cyber Slaves of Southeast Asia and Beyond...
[1]. The crisis has expanded beyond Southeast Asia, with criminal networks extending operations to Latin America, parts of Africa, and the Middle East.
[2]. xxCLI, 2024: custom research tool coding project I developed through individual exploration of Python programming, creativity, iterative-problem solving, and AI assistance.D
[3]. Note: Those who indulge in such atrocious acts against another are befitting the eternal flames of hell. So long as you persist, I pray you meet such fate.
Build Progress: Uploading Completed 01/14/2024
8 of 8
10 of 10
13 of 13
43 of 43 (maybe 30+/- more)
PHOTO #6: IJM, 2024; https://ijm.org.au/blog/scam-centres-run-by-human-trafficking/
Bottom Line Up Front
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Main subject: Transnational Organized Crime, Cybercrime
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Area study: Southeast Asia
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Three primary scam compound host countries: Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, followed by Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan
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Reportedly around 500,000+/- cyber slaves in the area of study
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Chinese "pig butchering" and investment scams, human trafficking, forced labor, underground banking, crypto, etc.
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More scam compounds are being built, its an industry wrapped in casinos, gambling, etc.
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Requires coordinated anticipatory international action to get ahead of the crisis at global scale
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Research scope: Timeline 1 2019-2024, Timeline 2 2010-2020-2030, Timeline 3 1940-2060
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Learn the regions through cultural and sociopolitical historical studies
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Learn about China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ)
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Learn the regions through geographical maps, boarder zones, and port zones
PHOTO #1: ABC News, 2022; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-16/cambodia-human-trafficking-online-scam-pig-butchering/101407862
PHOTO #2: Insightmyanmar.org, 2022; https://insightmyanmar.org/all-about-burma/2022/9/27/golden-triangle
PHOTO #3: UNODC, 2016; https://www.unodc.org/roseap/en/2016/11/golden-triangle-opium-economy/story.html
PHOTO #4: Stefan Czimmek, DW, Protos, 2024; https://protos.com/1200-slaves-freed-from-myanmar-pig-butchering-compound/
"DW interviewed the trafficked victims who claimed that weekly murders took place and that they were constantly surveilled and tortured. Victims reportedly ran these crypto scams for 17 hours a day with no rest and were told they would be sold or killed if they tried to leave."
Peer-Reviewed Journals
When researching and preparing your work, peer-reviewed journals are an invaluable resource to gain topic insights and connect to further referenced sources in the genre. In general, peer-reviewed journals provide us with academically published works. Such works undergo a rigorous evaluation process by experts in the same field, ensuring the quality and validity of the research. In context of critical thinking, peer review enhances the credibility of sources by scrutinizing methodologies, data interpretation, and conclusions, thereby aiding critical thinkers in making informed decisions and avoiding misinformation.
Transnational Organised Cyber Crime: Distinguishing Threat From Reality
McCusker, R. (2006). Transnational Organised Cyber Crime: Distinguishing Threat From Reality. Crime, Law and Social Change, 46(4-5), 257-273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-007-9059-3
Abstract: Cybercrime has become an integral part of the transnational threat landscape and conjures up pressing images of nefarious and increasingly complex online activity. More recently, the concept of ‘organised crime’ has been attributed to cybercriminality. There has been subsequent disagreement and confusion concerning whether such crime is a derivation of traditional organised crime or an evolution of such crime within the online space. This opaque state of affairs has been exacerbated by the relative lack of clear evidence attesting to and supporting either scenario. Technological advances have always been used to the advantage of the criminal fraternity. The crucial question that remains is whether those advances have merely facilitated the commission of physical crime or whether in fact they have led to the creation of a new wave of traditional, but virtual, organised crime.
Cyber Slavery, Port Cities and Systemic Cruelty
Logistics of Labor Extraction in the 21st Century
Liu, J. C. H. (2023). Cyber Slavery, Port Cities and Systemic Cruelty. Innovation in the Social Sciences, 1(2), 211–233.
Abstract: This article presents a theoretical analysis of the logistics of neoliberal slavery in the 21st century, focusing on the role of the port cities as the hinge in the supply chain through the case of the cyber scam industry of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone. The hinge, in a metonymic and metaphorical way, connects a complex mobile networking system with a multi-dimensional and topological dynamism.The overlaid networks consist of a tripartite operation—the production, the market, and the law—and explains the persistence of human interest in profiting from surplus values through human labor extraction, and the violence and cruelty inherent in this. The logic of circulation no longer follows Marx’s analysis of M-C-M o rM-M+, but the formula of V-M+. Through void with no cost, and violence with no law, there is no limit to the multiplication of capital.
An Overview of Transnational Organized Cyber Crime
Etges, R., & Sutcliffe, E. (2010). An Overview of Transnational Organized Cyber Crime. Journal of Digital Forensic Practice, 3(2–4), 106–114.
Abstract: This is a reprint of a 2008 paper published in the Information Security Journal: A Global Perspective. This essay discusses the nature of transnational organized crime (TOC) and its activities affecting today’s electronic landscape. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with IT-related information security in general, and therefore the technicalities around net works and information systems will be avoided as many papers and books cover these subjects extensively. Most security practitioners are familiar with the technical aspects of IT-related attacks (referred to here as cyber attacks or crimes) but not so with the organization and structure of the groups behind these attacks. We will further explore the origins and evolution of TOC, and how it influences and is influenced by today’s omnipresent ‘speed of thought’ digital society.
Are Fraud Victims Nothing More Than Animals? Critiquing The Propagation Of “Pig Butchering”
Sha Zhu Pan, 杀猪盘
Whittaker, J. M., Lazarus, S., & Corcoran, T. (2024). Are fraud victims nothing more than animals? Critiquing the propagation of “pig butchering” (Sha Zhu Pan, 杀猪盘). Journal of Economic Criminology, 3, 100052-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconc.2024.100052
Abstract. This is s a theoretical treatment of the term "Sha Zhu Pan" (杀猪盘) in Chinese, which translates to "Pig-Butchering" in English. The article critically examines the propagation and validation of "Pig Butchering," an animal metaphor, and its implications for the dehumanization of victims of online fraud across various discourses. The study provides background information about this type of fraud before investigating its theoretical foundations and linking its emergence to the dehumanization of fraud victims...
Shelter-Based Services For Survivors Of Human Trafficking In Cambodia: Experiences And Perspectives Of Survivors
Tsai, L. C., Lim, V., & Nhanh, C. (2022). Shelter-Based Services For Survivors Of Human Trafficking In Cambodia: Experiences And Perspectives Of Survivors. Qualitative Social Work : QSW : Research and Practice, 21(3), 523–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250211010901
Abstract. In Southeast Asia, services for survivors of human trafficking have historically been centralized within shelter programs. Minimal research has, however, been conducted regarding trafficking-specific shelters, particularly research that highlights the perspectives of survivors themselves. This manuscript presents the perspectives of survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation on their own experiences pertaining to trafficking-specific shelter services. We analyzed data from the Butterfly longitudinal research (BLR) study, a 10-year longitudinal study exploring the lives, trajectories, and viewpoints of survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Cambodia. We analyzed 236 in-depth interviews and narrative summaries of interviews conducted between 2011 and 2016 using an interpretive phenomenological approach (n = 79). Four themes were identified: feeling privileged to live in a shelter; lacking freedom and feeling imprisoned by rules; limited engagement with family; and mixed experiences with counseling. Findings inform critical recommendations for implementing trauma-informed care and strengthening mental health services for survivors, including services provided within shelter programs and within the anti-human trafficking movement more broadly.
ASEAN and Human Trafficking: Case Studies of Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam
Kranrattanasuit, N. (2014). Asean And Human Trafficking : Case Studies Of Cambodia, Thailand, And Vietnam. BRILL.
Abstract. Trafficking in persons is a serious crime that affects the human rights, dignity and integrity of all its victims including women, men, and children in the Association of Southeast Asia Nation (ASEAN) region. ASEAN has made efforts to fight human trafficking through inter alia the establishment of regional counter-human trafficking laws and human rights bodies to establish best norms and practices for its member countries. Nevertheless, the International Labour Organization (ILO) recently declared that there are more than 11.7 million forced labor victims in the Asia-Pacific region encompassing the biggest concentration of forced labour victims in the world.
Utilizing The Communication For Development Approach To Prevent Online Child Trafficking In Thailand
Kranrattanasuit, N. (2024). Utilizing The Communication For Development Approach To Prevent Online Child Trafficking In Thailand. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 197.
Abstract: In Thailand, predators use online and offline methods to exploit migrant children as forced labourers in various industries, including shrimp and seafood processing, construction and agriculture. This study examines the current status of online child trafficking and considers how the communication for development (C4D) approach can be utilised to prevent these crimes. This study reviews papers and reports published in Thailand and abroad on online child and human trafficking, prevention methods and C4D. Moreover, the study used purposive sampling and interviewed Thai government officials and representatives from non-government organisations (NGOs) with expertise in migration issues. The findings reveal that human traffickers deceive migrant children into online child labour and trafficking through unregulated online channels. However, the Thai government has collaborated with local and international NGOs to apply C4D to reach out to children seeking employment in safe online spaces to prevent child trafficking. This paper argues that C4D is helpful for raising public awareness of the threats posed by human trafficking. Simultaneously, specific labour groups employ C4D Plus, which may be applicable in the prevention of online child trafficking.
Sentencing Disparity and Focal Concern: An Assessment of Judicial Decisions on Sha Zhu Pan Cases Collected From China Judgements Online
Wang, F. (2023). Sentencing Disparity and Focal Concern: An Assessment of Judicial Decisions on Sha Zhu Pan Cases Collected From China Judgements Online. Crime and Delinquency, 1112872311585-.
Abstract: Sha Zhu Pan (杀猪盘), or Pig-Butchering scam, is a new online romance scam that mainly targets Chinese-speaking individuals to gain emotional trust and persuade victims to invest in a fictitious website controlled by the scammer group. The substantial economic loss forced the Chinese government to launch a series of judicial campaigns against this crime. Regardless, Sha Zhu Pan has not been significantly curbed but intensified and spread from mainland China to Southeast Asia, North America, and other regions. When procuring answers to this conundrum, no empirical studies have attempted to explore judicial aspects among Sha Zhu Pan cases in China. The purpose of this paper is to utilize focal concern theory, a conceptual framework generally applies to explain sentencing disparity, to explore whether the sentencing of Sha Zhu Pan offenders is guided by legal factors outlined in Chinese sentencing guidelines. To answer this question, this study quantitatively analyzes 172 legal cases collected from China Judgments Online. Although few inconsistent findings exist, the empirical evidence reveals that the judgments in Sha Zhu Pan cases are primarily driven by the three legal elements of the focal concern theory. The outcomes expand the focal concern theory to cybercrime sentencing in a cross-cultural context while offering insights to guide future research.
Cyber Slavery, Port Cities and Systemic Cruelty
Logistics of Labor Extraction in the 21st Century
Liu, J. C. H. (2023). Cyber Slavery, Port Cities and Systemic Cruelty. Innovation in the Social Sciences, 1(2), 211–233.
Abstract: This article presents a theoretical analysis of the logistics of neoliberal slavery in the 21st century, focusing on the role of the port cities as the hinge in the supply chain through the case of the cyber scam industry of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone. The hinge, in a metonymic and metaphorical way, connects a complex mobile networking system with a multi-dimensional and topological dynamism.The overlaid networks consist of a tripartite operation—the production, the market, and the law—and explains the persistence of human interest in profiting from surplus values through human labor extraction, and the violence and cruelty inherent in this. The logic of circulation no longer follows Marx’s analysis of M-C-M o rM-M+, but the formula of V-M+. Through void with no cost, and violence with no law, there is no limit to the multiplication of capital.
Non-Governmental
Think-Tanks
&
NGOs, INGOs, & Think-Tanks
When researching and preparing your work, information from NGOs, INGOs, and Think-Tanks provides an excellent outlet for topic insights and allows us connection to further sources in the genre. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international NGOs (INGOs) play a crucial role in fostering critical thinking by providing diverse perspectives and insights on social and humanitarian issues. Furthermore, by promoting informed decision-making, encouraging community involvement, and advocating for ethical solutions to complex problems, NGOs and INGOs provide a source dimension essential to our research as critical thinkers.
UNITED STATES
INSTITUTE OF PEACE
Chinese Crime Networks Partner with Myanmar Armed Groups
Tower, J., & Clapp, P. (2020, April 20). Chinese Crime Networks Partner with Myanmar Armed Groups. United States Institute of Peace, Washington D.C. https://www.usip.org/publications/2020/04/chinese-crime-networks-partner-myanmar-armed-groups
Myanmar’s Casino Cities: The Role of China and Transnational Criminal Networks
Tower, J., & Clapp, P. (2020, July 27). Myanmar’s Casino Cities: The Role of China and Transnational Criminal Networks. United States Institute of Peace, Washington D.C. https://www.usip.org/publications/2020/07/myanmars-casino-cities-role-china-and-transnational-criminal-networks
Myanmar’s Criminal Zones: A Growing Threat to Global Security
Tower, J., & Clapp, P. (2022, Nov 9). Myanmar’s Criminal Zones: A Growing Threat to Global Security. United States Institute of Peace, Washington D.C. https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/11/myanmars-criminal-zones-growing-threat-global-security
In Myanmar’s Conflict, Don’t Mistake Complex for Intractable
Ford, B. (2024, June 5). In Myanmar’s Conflict, Don't Mistake Complex for Intractable. United States Institute of Peace, Washington D.C. https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/06/myanmars-conflict-dont-mistake-complex-intractable
Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Growing Threat to Global Peace and Security
USIP. (2024, May 13). Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Growing Threat to Global Peace and Security. United States Institute of Peace, Washington D.C. https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/05/transnational-crime-southeast-asia-growing-threat-global-peace-and-security
Update June 4, 2025: Until USIP becomes available: Original source links remain, source links are connecting to PDFs or Wayback Machine sources supplementing the current website situation.
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Sihanoukville: A Hub of Environmental Crime Convergence
Farrelly, N., Dawkins, A., & Deegan, P. (2022, September). Sihanoukville: A Hub of Environmental Crime Convergence. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC). https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GI-TOC-report_Sihanoukville_For-upload.pdf
China’s New Model of Global Governance and its Impact on the Fight Against Organized Crime
Thorley, M. (2024, May 9). China’s New Model of Global Governance and its Impact on the Fight Against Organized Crime. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC). https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/china-new-model-of-global-governance-and-its-impact-on-the-fight-against-organized-crime/
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
OHCHR. (n.d.). Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders: About the mandate. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Accessed 2024, June 16. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/online-scam-operations-and-trafficking-forced-criminality-southeast-asia-recommendations-human-rights-response
Online scam operations and trafficking into forced criminality in Southeast Asia: Recommendations for a human rights response
OHCHR. (2023, August 29). Online scam operations and trafficking into forced criminality in Southeast Asia: Recommendations for a human rights response. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). https://reliefweb.int/report/world/online-scam-operations-and-trafficking-forced-criminality-southeast-asia-recommendations-human-rights-response
United Nations
Trafficking in Persons in Conflict Situations:
the World Must Strengthen Prevention and Accountability
OHCHR. (2022, July 29). Trafficking in persons in conflict situations: the world must strengthen prevention and accountability. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2022/07/trafficking-persons-conflict-situations-world-must-strengthen-prevention-and
"It is now increasingly clear that a potentially irreversible displacement and spillover has taken place in which organized crime are able to pick, choose, and move value and jurisdictions as needed, with the resulting situation rapidly outpacing the capacity of governments to contain it" (UNODC, 2024).
UNODC. (2024, October). Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud, Underground Banking and Technological Innovation in Southeast Asia: A Shifting Threat Landscape. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2024/TOC_Convergence_Report_2024.pdf
"...study was conducted by the UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP) with the support of the Research and Analysis Branch (RAB) and several experts in the field."
Governmental
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
When researching and preparing your work, resources from governmental repositories are an excellent resource to gain topic insights and connecting to further sources in the genre. In general, governmental source types:
"play crucial roles in critical thinking by providing data and information that can be evaluated for credibility and accuracy. Critical thinkers must assess these sources for potential biases, ensuring that they reflect the public interest rather than personal or financial agendas. This involves analyzing the authority and purpose of the source, as well as considering the broader context in which the information is presented. By evaluating governmental sources effectively, citizens can make informed decisions and engage in participatory and deliberative democracy, thereby contributing to the development of public policies that benefit society as a whole" (PPLX-API, 2025).
An important question to ask yourself: "How has my government addressed this international crisis and what efforts are underway to negotiate, disrupt, and dismantle this thriving industry?"
U.S.
Department of State
2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Cambodia
U.S. Department of State. (2023). Trafficking in Persons Report: Cambodia. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/cambodia/
2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
U.S. Department of State. (2023). Trafficking in Persons Report. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/
Fact Sheets for 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
U.S. Department of State. (2023). Fact Sheets for 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.state.gov/fact-sheets-for-2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/
Human Trafficking and Cyber Scam Operations
U.S. Department of State. (2023, June). Human Trafficking and Cyber Scam Operations. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Human-Trafficking-and-Cyber-Scam-Operations.pdf
Online Recruitment of Vulnerable Populations for Forced Labor
U.S. Department of State. (2023, June). Online Recruitment of Vulnerable Populations for Forced Labor. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Online-Recruitment-of-Vulnerable-Populations-for-Forced-Labor_Edited.pdf
FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigations
Human Trafficking
FBI. (n.d.). Human Trafficking. United States Government, Washington DC. Accessed 2024, June 12. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/cambodia/
U.S.
Secret Service
Two Foreign Nationals Arrested for Laundering at Least $73M Through Shell Companies Tied to Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
United States Secret Service. (2024, May 17). Two Foreign Nationals Arrested for Laundering at Least $73M Through Shell Companies Tied to Cryptocurrency Investment Scams. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2024/05/two-foreign-nationals-arrested-laundering-least-73m-through-shell
U.S.
Department of Justice
Human Trafficker Working With Mexican “Coyotes” Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Transport Illegal Aliens
U.S. Department of Justice. (2024, May 7). Human Trafficker Working With Mexican “Coyotes” Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Transport Illegal Aliens. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/human-trafficker-working-mexican-coyotes-pleads-guilty-conspiring-transport-illegal
Four Individuals Charged for Laundering Millions from Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
U.S. Department of Justice. (2023, Dec 14). Four Individuals Charged for Laundering Millions from Cryptocurrency Investment Scams. United States Government, Washington DC. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-individuals-charged-laundering-millions-cryptocurrency-investment-scams
Burma (Myanmar) - Level 4: Do Not Travel
U.S. Department of Justice. (2024, June 6). Burma (Myanmar) - Level 4: Do Not Travel. United States Government, Washington DC. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/burma-travel-advisory.html
Chinese Connection: Cross-Border Drug Trafficking Between Myanmar and China
Chin, K., & Zhang, S. (2007, April). Chinese Connection: Cross-Border Drug Trafficking Between Myanmar and China. Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/chinese-connection-cross-border-drug-trafficking-between-myanmar
Library of Congress
Federal Research Division
Transnational Activities of
Chinese Crime Organizations
Curtis, G., Elan, S., Hudson, R., & Kollars, N. (2003, April.). Transnational Activities of Chinese Crime Organizations. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. United States Government, Washington DC. (Accessed: 2022, Jan 17; 2025, Jan 13). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257771119_Transnational_activities_of_Chinese_crime_organizations
U.S.
Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Corrupt Actors in Africa and Asia
U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2020, Dec 9). Treasury Sanctions Corrupt Actors in Africa and Asia. United States Government, Washington DC. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1206
Global News
OPEN-SOURCE
Open-source news leverages publicly available information and digital tools to construct narratives and validate facts, enhancing traditional journalism with layers of validation, depth, and context. This method allows for in-depth research and validation, particularly in areas with restricted access due to conflict, censorship, or other limitations. It democratizes information, enabling ordinary people to contribute and influence international fact-finding processes, thereby driving change and ensuring the truth is revealed.
However, open-source news is not without potential pitfalls. It can be vulnerable to cognitive and technical biases, such as overlooking marginalized populations and being subject to inaccuracies from unverified public sources. Additionally, the lack of metadata in digital content can hinder our ability to validate information, and the stress-driven nature of public uploads can lead to imprecise labeling of crucial details.
Therefore, critical thinking is essential to navigate these challenges, ensuring that open-source news remains a reliable and trustworthy source of information. By fostering critical thinking skills, we can equip ourselves to evaluate the credibility of open-source news effectively, distinguishing between accurate and misleading information in today's complex information landscape.
Updated Open-Source List: [1]
Author | Date | Title | Publisher | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
UCA News | 5/15/2024 | USIP Calls Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos a Growing Global Threat | The Cambodia Daily | https://english.cambodiadaily.com/news/usip-calls-myanmar-cambodia-and-laos-a-growing-global-threat-187751/ |
Radio Free Asia | 11/13/2019 | Chinese Mega-Project in Myanmar's Kayin State Sparks Resentment And Worry | Radio Free Asia (RFA) | https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/chinese-mega-project-in-myanmars-kayin-state-11132019165455.html |
Chhun Sunly | 12/17/2021 | Casino in Sihanoukville Closed Down Over Alleged Confinement and Torture | Khmer Times | https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50989798/a-casino-in-sihanoukville-closed-down-over-alleged-confinement-torture/ |
France24 | 9/11/2022 | Inside the 'Living Hell' of Cambodia's Scam Operations | France24 | https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221109-inside-the-living-hell-of-cambodia-s-scam-operations |
Cezary Podkul | 10/3/2022 | Alleged Cambodian Pig Butchering Scam Operations Raided | ProPublica | https://www.propublica.org/article/pig-butchering-scams-raided-cambodia-apple-trafficking |
Cindy Liu, Jack Brook | 5/1/2023 | Kidnapped, Beaten and Ransomed in Post-Crackdown Sihanoukville | Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/burma-travel-advisory.html |
Matthias Alffram | 5/9/2022 | Sihanoukville Pays the Price for Heavy Reliance on Chinese | Bangkok Post | https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2306938/sihanoukville-pays-the-price-for-heavy-reliance-on-chinese |
Aljazeera | 8/11/2022 | Meet Cambodia's Cyber Slaves | Aljazeera | https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2022/8/11/meet-cambodia-cyber-slaves |
Swethavimala M | 5/14/2024 | Telangana Cyber Security Bureau to take up Cambodia cyber fraud case probe | The New Indian Express | https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2024/May/15/telangana-cyber-security-bureau-to-take-up-cambodia-cyber-fraud-case-probe |
Shaun Turton | 9/1/2021 | Cyber slavery: inside Cambodia's online scam gangs | Nikkei Asia | https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/Cyber-slavery-inside-Cambodia-s-online-scam-gangs |
DataReportal | 2/13/2023 | Digital 2023: Malaysia | DataReportal | https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-malaysia?rq=Malaysia |
Reuters | 8/30/2023 | Meta rejects recommendation to suspend former Cambodia PM from Facebook | Reuters | https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/meta-rejects-recommendation-suspend-former-cambodia-pm-from-facebook-2023-08-30/ |
David Whiehouse | 4/10/2024 | Cambodia's Cyber-Slavery Trafficking Denials Reflect Official Complicity, Experts Say | The Diplomat | https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/cambodias-cyber-slavery-trafficking-denials-reflect-official-complicity-experts-say/ |
Kathleen Magramo | 3/28/2024 | Gangs netting up to $3 trillion a year as Southeast Asia human trafficking becomes a global crisis, Interpol says | CNN | https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/28/asia/southeast-asia-interpol-scam-human-trafficking-crime-intl-hnk/index.html |
Chainalysis Team | 2/24/2024 | The On-chain Footprint of Southeast Asia's Pig Butchering Compounds: Human Trafficking, Ransoms, and Hundreds of Millions Scammed | Chainalysis | https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/pig-butchering-human-trafficking/ |
James Reddick | 5/22/2023 | FBI Warns About Fake Job Ads From Cyber Traffickers | The Record from Recorded Future News | https://therecord.media/cyber-trafficking-fbi-warning-scam-compounds-pig-butchering |
Jordan Smith | 6/1/2023 | The Dark Intersection of Online Scams and Human Trafficking | The Exodus Road | https://theexodusroad.com/online-scams-and-human-trafficking/ |
Freedom Collaborative | 5/7/2024 | Local Efforts to Break Up Cybercrime Syndicates Help Disrupt the Trafficking Cycle | Freedom Collaborative | https://newsletter.freedomcollaborative.org/local-efforts-to-break-up-cybercrime-syndicates-help-disrupt-the-trafficking-cycle/ |
Freedom Collaborative | 12/3/2024 | Cambodian Police Claim to Find No Criminal Activity Following a Scamming Compound Raid | Freedom Collaborative | https://newsletter.freedomcollaborative.org/cambodian-police-claim-to-find-no-criminal-activity-following-a-scamming-compound-raid/ |
Freedom Collaborative | 11/19/2024 | Journalists And Activists Addressing Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia Need International Support | Freedom Collaborative | https://newsletter.freedomcollaborative.org/journalists-and-activists-addressing-human-trafficking-in-southeast-asia-need-international-support/ |
Freedom Collaborative | 10/23/2024 | Scamming Operations Relocate to Cambodia as China Moves to Protect Its Borders | Freedom Collaborative | https://newsletter.freedomcollaborative.org/scamming-operations-relocate-to-cambodia-as-china-moves-to-protect-its-borders/ |
Elizabeth Howell | 6/29/2023 | Satellites Spy on Human Trafficking 'Compounds' | Space.com (Future US, Inc.) | https://www.space.com/human-trafficking-compound-maxar-satellite-photo |
Human Rights First | 5/1/2016 | Human Trafficking in the United States: Who are the Victims? Where do They Come From? | Human Rights First | https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-trafficking-in-the-united-states/ |
IJM | n.d. | Three Perpetrators Guilty of Human Trafficking in Cyber Scam Case | Indonesia | International Justice Mission | https://www.ijm.org/news/three-perpetrators-guilty-human-trafficking-cyber-scam-case |
Freedom United | 2/12/2024 | Behind Concrete Walls: Cambodia's Cyber Slavery Horrors | Freedom United | https://www.freedomunited.org/news/cambodia-cyber-slavery-horrors/ |
Samah Al Agha | 6/17/2023 | Combatting Human Trafficking in Saudi Arabia | Access to Justice in Eastern Europe (AJEE) | http://web.archive.org/web/20230803091016/https://ajee-journal.com/combatting-human-trafficking-in-saudi-arabia |
Jayant Chakravarti | 4/4/2024 | Cambodian Scam Compounds Emerging as Growing Cybercrime Hubs | BankInfoSecurity | Information Security Media Group, Corp. | https://www.bankinfosecurity.asia/cambodian-scam-compounds-emerging-as-growing-cybercrime-hubs-a-24782 |
Evelyn Macairan | 5/21/2024 | Detained Foreign Tanker Now a 'Vessel of Interest' for NICA | PhilStar Global | https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/05/21/2356693/detained-foreign-tanker-now-vessel-interest-nica |
Khmer Times Staff | 5/19/2022 | Meta Launches Awareness Campaign About Online Scam | Khmer Times | https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501078177/meta-launches-awareness-campaign-about-online-scam/ |
Ry Sochan | 5/18/2022 | Meta says Facebook Scams Increasingly Sophisticated | The Phnom Penh Post | https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/meta-says-facebook-scams-increasingly-sophisticated |
Sheila Crisostomo | 6/2/2024 | Facebook Shuts Down Accounts Involved in Selling Babies | The Philippine Star | https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/02/2359696/facebook-shuts-down-accounts-involved-selling-babies |
Nadine Chua | 10/8/2023 | Spore Money Laundering Case Among Worlds Largest with Assets Seized Worth Over $2.8b | The Straits Times | SPH Media Limited, Co | https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/money-laundering-case-among-world-s-largest-with-assets-seized-worth-over-28b |
Network Media Group | 7/21/2023 | Explosion at Lashio Gold Shop Leads to Arrest of Over 10 Locals | Burma News International (BNI) | https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/explosion-lashio-gold-shop-leads-arrest-over-10-locals |
SHAN | 10/31/2023 | With the Backing of the SAC Regime, a Fully Light Company Expands Its Economic Reach in Lashio | Shan Herald Agency For News (SHAN) | https://english.shannews.org/archives/26603 |
Cezary Podkul | 10/5/2023 | Southeast Asian Casinos Emerge as Major Enablers of Global Cybercrime | ProPublica | https://www.propublica.org/article/casinos-cambodia-myanmar-laos-southeast-asia-fraud-cybercrime |
Nanda | 7/23/2020 | The Kokang Casino Gang | Frontier Myanmar | https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/the-kokang-casino-dream/ |
RFA Burmese | 10/4/2023 | Myanmar company director and regional officials arrested in China | RFA Burmese | https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/yunnan-arrests-10042023073528.html |
SHAN | 5/2/2023 | Lashio Town At Risk Of Chinese Domination As Land Deals Soar | Shan Herald Agency for News | https://english.shannews.org/archives/26129 |
SHAN | 6/5/2024 | Thousands at Risk of Starvation in Southern Shan State Without Immediate Relief | Shan Herald Agency for News | https://english.shannews.org/archives/27153 |
SHAN | 6/6/2024 | Hundreds Killed in Karenni State Since Military Coup | Shan Herald Agency for News | https://english.shannews.org/archives/27155 |
SHAN | 6/12/2024 | Regime Soldiers Beat Civilians in Ywangan Township | Shan Herald Agency for News | https://english.shannews.org/archives/27164 |
Notes:
This is the current point of uploading progress. It is 1/5/25, I began the website 12/9/2024. All research sources were from '2024 June' research adventure. The current goal is to have all entries uploaded to this page by 1/30/25.
Look into dynamic pages with these entries, it will be a more efficient way to enter this information and limits the formatting to once instead of each single block. I am manually copy and pasting single text groupings then changing specific text per entry to keep the uniform format. This was fine for these entries but I have at least 25 more and we will update this list over time.
CYB3RJC
Great News!
It is 1/14/2025 and I have since made an excel file, which is one way to save a spreadsheet as a .csv, and transferred the first CherryTree page into the .csv, doing so yielded 34 source entries added to the 8. It was worth waiting and figuring out how to make this work and learn a better skill for collections organization and management of information. The amount of time this will save will be great. Now we can experiment how to make the data linked to dynamic element boxes such as the previous entries.
[1]. Updated Source List:
Here, I have successfully created an excel file, tested its compatibility with Wix, transferred all URL links while testing and updating any broken links. Below, I am testing connecting our newly developed '.csv' dataset to our Wix dynamic custom table element.
I am categorizing research from 2019-2024, then a second stage from 2025-2029, providing a concise data tracking set to be continuously used for global research.
As of current, 1/14/2025, the goal is to continue to build the master list and collect the other resources in the remaining files. I am not concerned about format and style of the page at this time. I have added the previous 9 to the master data set. I am concerned about finding and further researching the reports I was reading about, another Chinese 'great-firewall' allegedly to be built and installed in Myanmar who's effects could be detrimental for peace and stability in the region while bolstering the scam compound operations and communications.
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