Right now, thousands of victims are being tricked, trafficked, trapped in guarded compounds and forced to scam people like you and me, under the threat of brutal violence. This brutal new crime is being reported in the BBC Three documentary 'Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang', ITV News and other major news outlets.

Forced scamming is one of the most complex and fastest-growing forms of modern slavery in the world.

Interpol recently announced that forced scamming is now a global crisis "representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety." UK banks are also warning of huge increases in online scams.

• A victim is recruited via a convincing fake job advert and trafficked into a heavily-guarded compound.
• Once at the compound, traffickers take the victim’s passport and phone. They are trapped and unable to leave.
• The victim is forced to conduct scams for up to 20 hours a day, six days a week.
• The victim often experiences extreme violence including electrocution or torture.

• Hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to be working in the scamming industry in South East Asia.
• Cambodia initially emerged as a primary hotspot for this crime, but exploitation has now been reported in Laos, Myanmar, Philippines – and further afield.
  
• 35+ different nationalities have been found in scamming compounds
• UNODC Cambodia estimates that forced scamming generates $7.5-12.5 billion in Cambodia
• Without proper victim identification, survivors may be arrested, charged, and convicted for criminal activities done under coercion.
• UK banks are also warning of huge increases in online scams (BBC).
• Interpol has issued a warning that forced scamming is a "global threat to public safety." (Interpol)