By Matters India Reporter
Bangkok, July 30, 2026: The Christian Conference of Asia called for urgent action against human trafficking linked to cyber scam operations, warning that thousands of people are being exploited through schemes that lure victims with false job opportunities and promises of a better future.
In a July 30 statement issued for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026, the organization said this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” draws attention to the human cost of cyber-enabled fraud networks that have expanded rapidly across Asia and other regions.
The Christian Conference of Asia said many victims are recruited under false pretenses, transported across borders and confined in facilities where they are compelled to participate in online fraud operations. According to the statement, those trapped in the compounds face “constant surveillance, threats, and abuse.”
“Behind the digital façade of online fraud lies a world of coercion, violence, and modern-day slavery,” the statement said.
The group cited survivor accounts and reports from international organizations documenting abuses that include forced labor, debt bondage, torture, sexual abuse and arbitrary detention. It said people who manage to escape often suffer long-term physical, emotional and psychological harm.
The conference attributed the growth of cyber scam operations to a range of underlying social and economic challenges, including poverty, inequality, forced migration, unemployment, conflict, statelessness and the lack of secure livelihood opportunities.
It said organized criminal networks have become increasingly sophisticated, using digital platforms and emerging technologies to recruit, deceive and control vulnerable people for financial gain.
The organization urged churches throughout Asia to take a more active role in combating trafficking and supporting survivors. “In the face of these alarming realities, silence is no longer an option,” the statement said.
The conference called on its member churches and councils to raise awareness, advocate for justice and help survivors rebuild their lives. It also encouraged faith communities to confront systems and structures that contribute to exploitation.
In addition, the group appealed to governments, law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, regional institutions, civil society organizations and technology companies to work together against trafficking networks.
The statement said stronger cooperation is needed to dismantle criminal operations, protect victims, safeguard vulnerable communities and ensure accountability for traffickers.
Concluding its message, the conference urged the public not to forget people still trapped in scam compounds or those struggling to recover after escaping exploitation. It called for continued efforts to promote justice and uphold human dignity and rights for all.
The statement was signed by Rev. Jung Eun Grace Moon, general secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia.