Scammed Into Scamming, an illustrated investigation into Southeast Asia’s multi-billion-dollar cyberfraud industry, was published by Reuters in September 2025.
A first-ever for Reuters, the project fused rigorous investigative reporting with cutting-edge visual storytelling in an immersive narrative about human trafficking that shed light for the first time on the enabling role of Thailand’s immigration department.
Corruption and weak law enforcement across Southeast Asia has allowed for the proliferation of brutal scam compounds where workers from countries across the world are lured, held in inhuman conditions, and coerced into defrauding strangers, according to the United Nations.
Despite its staggering scale, there has been little reporting establishing the trafficking pipeline as well as the cruelty of the gangs’ daily operations.
Reuters’ explosive investigation was a first. Featuring stories of trafficking victims who described being escorted through Thai airports by purported immigration officials, the report was picked up by local and regional news outlets. It sparked a probe within Thailand’s police force. In the weeks after the story’s publication, authorities introduced new law enforcement measures aimed at curbing the explosive growth of the criminal enterprise.
The report was widely praised by experts on the scam industry, including anti-trafficking groups and anti-fraud campaigners. The compelling visuals, which were also featured in a short-form video posted on Reuters’ Instagram and TikTok accounts, helped bring the story to a new audience.
