- The way in which forced cyber labour presents can vary significantly from one victim to another. However, some indicators may include sudden overseas travel following a high-paying job offer, loss of contact after arrival or distressed, inconsistent or scripted messages suggesting the individual is not communicating freely.
- Victims may report having their passports confiscated, being unable to leave a building or compound or experiencing constant surveillance, long working hours and punishments for not meeting “targets.”
- It is common to see signs of physical injury, exhaustion, malnutrition or untreated medical issues resulting from confinement, as well as visible fear, anxiety or hesitation when speaking about their situation.
- Families or professionals may notice abrupt changes in behaviour, fearfulness or unusually vague explanations about travel, employment or accommodation - all of which can be trauma responses linked to coercion, confinement and forced cyber labour.
"Scam compounds are one of the fastest emerging forms of modern slavery worldwide. Victims are trafficked, confined and forced under threat to conduct online scams, fraud and cyber-enabled crime. Our role as expert witnesses is to shed light on these hidden systems of exploitation, ensuring victims are identified, protected and that justice is served."
- Dr. Grace Robinson, Director
What Are Scam Compounds?
- Scam compounds involve the trafficking, confinement and coercion of individuals who are forced to work in large-scale online fraud operations, often under armed guard and in highly controlled environments.
- Victims are deceived with false job offers - commonly in technology, customer service or sales - and transported across borders before having their passports confiscated.
- Once inside these compounds, they are forced to carry out tasks such as investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams or extortion while under constant surveillance.
- Scam compounds are most commonly reported in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines), but similar patterns are now emerging in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Who Is Affected?
- Victims include adults of all ages, often recruited online through professional networking sites, messaging apps or fraudulent recruitment agencies.
- Many are tech-literate individuals seeking overseas employment and may come from Africa, South Asia, China, Eastern Europe or the UK.
- Once trafficked into compounds, victims face physical abuse, starvation, torture, sexual violence and threats to family members.
- Some victims experience psychological manipulation, debt bondage and fabricated fines that prevent escape and entrench dependency.
Relationship Between Modern Slavery and Scam Compounds?
- Scam compounds involve multiple forms of modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour, financial exploitation and coercive control.
- Victims are recruited through deception, transported across borders, confined and forced to work under threat or violence.
- Although the work is digital, the control is physical and psychological, meeting the legal definition of forced labour.
- These operations generate significant profits for transnational organised crime networks, who rely on digital technology to expand exploitation across borders.
Signs of Scam Compound Exploitation
Characteristics of Scam Compound Exploitation
- False recruitment: victims deceived by online adverts for legitimate overseas work.
- Confinement: controlled compounds surrounded by guards, fences or barbed wire.
- Forced online labour: victims compelled to carry out scams and fraud against their will.
- Physical punishment: violence or torture for failing to meet targets.
- Debt and dependency: debts created for travel, “training” or accommodation to justify ongoing exploitation.
- Multinational networks: cross-border trafficking and profit chains spanning multiple jurisdictions.
- Digital coercion: threats, surveillance and restricted communications via monitored devices.
- Psychological trauma: long-term fear, guilt and shame associated with being forced to defraud others.
Best Practices in Identifying and Acting for Victims of Scam Compound Exploitation
- Be empathetic and compassionate, recognising that victims may fear criminalisation for their involvement in online fraud and may feel shame, confusion or distress linked to coercion.
- Avoid judgement or victim-blaming language - many individuals appear “compliant” due to threats, confinement, fabricated debts or fear of violence against themselves or their families.
- Map and log concerns, including changes in travel, communication patterns, financial activity, online recruitment messages and third-party control over passports, devices or movement.
- Work collaboratively with police, safeguarding teams, immigration services, NGOs and international partners, particularly where victims remain overseas or cross-border exploitation is suspected.
- Refer victims identified within the UK to the NRM as soon as possible to ensure formal identification, safeguarding and access to appropriate support.
The Law – Section 45 in Scam Compound Cases
- Section 45 provides a statutory defence for victims of modern slavery who commit offences as a direct consequence of exploitation and compulsion.
- Individuals wishing to rely on this defence must meet specific legal criteria; children must only demonstrate exploitation occurred, whereas adults must show both exploitation and compulsion.
- Our experts analyse the circumstances of each case to establish the connection between forced cyber labour and alleged offending behaviour and assess whether the criteria have been met.
What is The Role of an Expert Witness in a Scam Compound Case?
- We provide independent, evidence-based assessments of trafficking, coercion and forced cyber labour indicators in legal cases.
- Our reports explain recruitment, deception, confinement, surveillance, digital coercion and fabricated debt used within scam compounds, and how these shape behaviour, vulnerability, disclosure and decision-making.
- We assess trauma responses, cross-border movement, digital context and the wider network of organised crime to help courts understand the complex dynamics underpinning scam compounds and forced cyber labour.
Step-by-Step Process for Instructing a Scam Compound Expert Witness
- Contact us to discuss the specifics of the case.
- Agree on the scope of the report and deadlines.
- Provide relevant case files, including prosecution evidence, travel records, immigration documents, digital communications, financial information and NRM material.
- We review all evidence, assess the individual where possible and produce a detailed expert report outlining trafficking, coercion and forced cyber-labour dynamics.
- We attend court hearings where necessary to present our findings and support legal teams in explaining the mechanisms of exploitation.
Tips on Instructing a Scam Compound Expert Witness
- Provide clear instructions and all relevant evidence, including travel documentation, bank or payment records, digital downloads, communication transcripts and evidence of recruitment or threats.
- Instruct a psychologist or psychiatrist where trauma, coercion or captivity may affect the individual’s memory, disclosure or vulnerability.
- Allow sufficient time for comprehensive analysis, particularly in cases involving extensive digital communication, cross-border movement or prolonged confinement.
Founded by Dr Grace Robinson in 2019.
OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MODERN SLAVERY.