JAKARTA - Indonesia’s embassy in Yangon is working with a Myanmar-based group that provides trauma counseling for people who’ve been exploited.

The cooperation focuses on Indonesians rescued from online scam compounds in Myanmar — many of whom were duped with fake job offers, had their passports taken, and were pressured or threatened before being freed.

Chargé d’Affaires Novan Ivanhoe Saleh met with the NGO on December 10 to discuss how it can support victims before they’re sent home. They talked about practical rehabilitation services to help people recover and return safely.

They also discussed possible programs for 2026, including digital-safety and anti-scam workshops, personal-safety sessions for Indonesian communities and the Indonesian International School in Yangon, and trauma-aware training for teachers and embassy staff.

Over the past few years, online scam networks in Myanmar have trapped hundreds of Indonesians. After escaping, many need psychological support to deal with the abuse and pressure they went through.

Earlier this year, the Indonesian government repatriated 554 citizens who were trafficked and forced to work in online scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar. The return took place in two batches on March 18–19, 2025.

Digital trafficking has surged in Southeast Asia since the pandemic, with young Indonesians—often IT or computer-science graduates—lured by online job ads promising tech roles abroad, only to end up trapped in scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. 

Experts argue that migrants often struggle overseas because many are recruited through shady channels, end up working without proper papers, and don’t get enough protection or reliable information before leaving.