In November 2022, the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros (OSRH) uncovered a harrowing human trafficking operation in Myanmar, revealing a dark nexus where trust was exploited and promises of prosperity led to entrapment in a web of deceit and abuse. Victims, baited with the offer of seemingly legitimate job opportunities abroad, found themselves ensnared in scam hubs, coerced into perpetrating online fraud to the detriment of unsuspecting individuals.
In response to this appalling exploitation of people who were simply seeking greener pastures, the Active Citizenship Foundation, in collaboration with the OSRH and the British Embassy, initiated the Stop Scam Hubs Campaign. This comprehensive effort aims not only to raise awareness but also to empower communities to shield vulnerable individuals from the snares of transnational syndicates perpetrating these criminal operations.
To start off the campaign, a series of forums and discussions were convened, uniting students, government officials, youth leaders, and civil society representatives in a shared commitment to combat exploitation and fight scams. From Mindanao State University-Gensan, to Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro, partnerships were forged, and networks strengthened to amplify the campaign’s reach and impact.
As the campaign progressed, efforts were focused on safeguarding citizens from cyber scammers through strategic information dissemination. Collaborative efforts between ACF, its partner organizations, and government agencies yielded informational materials and digital content aimed at exposing scam operations, empowering individuals to recognize and resist coercion, and giving them a way to report scamming, or trafficking incidents to the appropriate authority.
Furthermore, the campaign’s localization efforts generated more discussions around the country on how best to combat human trafficking, online scams, and illegal recruitment, ensuring that our message of vigilance and resistance reaches as many communities as possible.
The Stop Scam Hubs Campaign stands as a testament to collective action against exploitation. By fostering collaboration across sectors and empowering communities with knowledge and useful tools, it embodies our people’s resolute stance against modern-day slavery and digital deception. As the campaign enters its next phase, let us recommit to the noble cause of safeguarding the dignity and rights of all individuals, ensuring that no one falls victim to the treachery of criminal syndicates.
