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Confronting Cyber Scams and Forced Criminality: Asia Freedom Network Strategic Forum Sparks Momentum in Malaysia
- Global Alms Incorporated
- May 15
- 3 min read
Updated: May 20
The Asia Freedom Network convened its Strategic Forum on Cyber Scams and Forced Criminality: Insights and Solutions for Collaboration in Putrajaya, Malaysia, gathering a diverse group of multi-sector stakeholders to address one of the most urgent criminal threats facing Southeast Asia today. The forum, held on 25 November 2024, marks a growing recognition that cyber-enabled trafficking and forced criminality, often overlooked in traditional anti-trafficking efforts, require coordinated, cross-sector solutions.
Expert Perspectives, Ground-Level Realities
The forum moderated by Asia Freedom Network Director, Helen Avadiar-Nimbalker, featured a dynamic panel of experts who have been instrumental in understanding and addressing these complex crimes:
Mechelle B.J. Moore – CEO of Global Alms Incorporated and Transnational Crime Specialist, Asia Freedom Network
Mina Chiang – Founder, Humanity Research Consultancy
BC Tan – Independent Expert
Nurul Qoiriah – Representative, ASEAN-ACT
These voices brought together real-world expertise and regional insight on the growing cyber scam crisis, highlighting both the human toll and systemic enablers behind this evolving form of exploitation.
Forced criminality through cyber scams is not just an economic or legal issue, it’s a humanitarian crisis unfolding in real time. Our response must be as fast and as coordinated as the syndicates we're up against. - Mechelle B.J. Moore, Transnational Crime Specialist
Escalating Threats, Deepening Coordination
The conversation was especially timely. A week prior to the forum, Malaysia's Home Minister acknowledged the country’s position as a top target for online fraud, revealing that victims are being re-targeted an average of 2.5 times, making Malaysia the country with the highest rate of scam revictimization in Asia (The Star, Nov 18, 2024).
Experts at the forum agreed: the blurring line between victim and perpetrator in these scams, particularly when trafficked individuals are forced to carry out online fraud, demands a new approach in victim identification and protection protocols.
Global Alms CEO, Mechelle B.J. Moore, hopes there will be a shift in how human trafficking victims are viewed by police. - Osmond Mah, FMT
Pushback Against Misleading Narratives
In the days surrounding the forum, Malaysian media was abuzz with controversy over claims that up to 90% of trafficking victims in cyber scams are actually fraudsters. These sweeping generalisations were publicly criticised by civil society, who argued such rhetoric undermines victim-centered responses and could jeopardise rescue efforts (Free Malaysia Today, Nov 25, 2024).
Forum panelists echoed these concerns, emphasising the urgent need for law enforcement training, better cross-border cooperation, and stronger legal safeguards to protect individuals coerced into cybercrime.
Trafficking victims should not face punishment for acts they were forced to commit through manipulation, coercion, or deception. Consent to exploitation becomes irrelevant under such circumstances. - Mechelle B.J. Moore, Transnational Crime Specialist
Strengthening ASEAN's Role
The forum also underscored the significance of ASEAN's 2025 chairmanship. With Malaysia set to lead the bloc, civil society organisations, including forum participants, have called on the government to leverage its role to amplify regional anti-trafficking frameworks and integrate strategies to combat online exploitation (New Straits Times, Nov 23, 2024).
Malaysia's leadership as ASEAN Chair presents a critical opportunity to bolster anti-trafficking measures, particularly in addressing forced criminality. By strengthening collaboration within ASEAN frameworks, Malaysia can improve the implementation of anti-trafficking policies and enhance victim protection standards. - Mechelle B.J. Moore, Transnational Crime Specialist
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Among the top recommendations from the forum were:
Stronger victim-centered policies for those coerced into online fraud
Capacity-building initiatives for frontliners and legal personnel
Greater collaboration between governments, NGOs, tech platforms, and researchers
Enhanced regional data-sharing to track syndicates and criminal migration patterns
As Mechelle B.J. Moore noted during the forum, forced criminality through cyber scams is not just an economic or legal issue, it’s a humanitarian crisis unfolding in real time. Our response must be as fast and as coordinated as the syndicates we're up against.
Moving Forward
The Asia Freedom Network’s forum planted a vital seed: a platform where multi-sector actors can co-create solutions grounded in reality, resilience, and respect for human rights. With regional momentum building and Malaysia's ASEAN leadership on the horizon, the time to act is now.
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