The Dark Underbelly of Cyber Fraud: Trafficked Workers in Myanmar**

An Ethiopian man recounts his harrowing journey from hopes of a better life to becoming a victim of human trafficking in Myanmar's cyber fraud epicenter, revealing the cruel methods used to control and forcibly recruit the victims.**

The allure of a well-paying job enticed Fisher, a 27-year-old Ethiopian electrical engineering graduate, into a nightmare. He convinced his father to sell their family farm to afford a ticket to Bangkok after seeing a promising job advertisement. The journey to supposed prosperity began with a lengthy car ride, during which unease began to set in. Upon arrival, instead of a bustling metropolis, Fisher found himself being ferried to Myanmar, a country torn by conflict and home to a burgeoning cyber fraud industry run by criminal syndicates.

Once in Myanmar, Fisher was thrown into a stark reality. In a white tower block filled with fellow victims, he was handed a computer and instructed to scam people worldwide. Fisher, who once held a respectable government position back home, resisted the demands of his captors, deeming the act of scamming against his morals. This defiance led to brutal repercussions; he was imprisoned in a torture chamber, enduring days of torment in a position akin to crucifixion, with punishment administered through physical abuse and sleep deprivation.

This chilling account resonates with many trafficked individuals within the scam networks. Witnesses to this torment have reported firsthand accounts of similar abuses, illustrating a grim narrative of exploitation and control that underscores the tragic conditions faced by thousands, as they are forced into a life of crime under the threat of violence and torture. The far-reaching implications of these operations extend beyond Myanmar's borders, contributing to an estimated tens of billions of dollars stolen in global cyber fraud.