IOM's Amy Pope Warns of Southeast Asia Scam Epidemic
Published on 7.31.25
Amy Pope, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has sounded the alarm about the rapid expansion of online scamming operations in South-east Asia, particularly in Myanmar's borderlands. These operations, which bring in an estimated $40 billion annually, often target vulnerable individuals such as migrants, young jobseekers, children, and people with disabilities. The IOM has helped nearly 3,000 victims since 2022, but Pope warns that many more remain stranded and are instead arrested, prosecuted, and punished for their exploitation.