The UK government sanctions individuals connected to forced scamming
Summary:
IJM commends the decision of the UK government to sanction a number of notorious individuals and compounds affiliated with human trafficking for forced criminal activity, including forced scamming, and industrial-scale cybercrime across Southeast Asia.
Targeted sanctions, while not IJM’s role, can be a powerful tool for governments to combat serious human rights abuses and crime transnationally.
The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said:
“We will not tolerate criminals and repressive regimes trampling on the fundamental rights and freedoms of ordinary people around the world.
"I am clear that 75 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UK and our allies will continue to relentlessly pursue those who would deny people their freedom.”
Accordingly, IJM spokespersons will continue to call for sanctions against violent criminals, as part of our recommendations for combatting forced scamming.
In a complex crime like forced scamming, where victims are tricked, trafficked and forced to conduct scams under the threat of extreme violence, many approaches are needed. IJM’s approach focuses on:
- working with police to bring victims to safety;
- supporting survivors to heal;
- holding traffickers to account;
- strengthening the ability of local justice systems to protect people from violence.