On croyait traquer des arnaqueurs, on a découvert des prisonniers

This transcript details a sophisticated global cybercrime phenomenon involving "scam centers" where individuals are coerced into perpetrating online fraud. The narrative begins with the case of Anne, a 53-year-old woman who believed she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt, only to be defrauded of €830,000. Anne's experience highlights the emotional manipulation involved, where scammers exploit loneliness and a desire for connection, presenting a seemingly legitimate and well-orchestrated scenario. She defends herself against accusations of naivety, arguing that anyone would fall for such a persuasive trap. However, the transcript shifts focus to the perpetrators, questioning whether the individuals behind the scams, like the fake "Brad Pitt," are themselves victims. It reveals that cybercrime has evolved from small, informal groups to highly structured, international organizations. These operations are no longer confined to internet cafes but are often located in secured buildings, sometimes guarded by armed individuals. The individuals working within these scam centers are frequently young graduates who were lured by deceptive job offers for well-paid positions abroad, such as digital marketing or customer support. Upon arrival, these recruits find their passports confiscated and are subjected to intense working conditions, often 15 to 18 hours a day on social media, dating apps, and forums. Their task is to establish connections, maintain relationships, and then manipulate targets into transferring money repeatedly. These locations are termed "scam centers" and are proliferating globally, particularly in regions with high corruption and weak security, with Southeast Asia being an initial hub that is now migrating to West Africa and the Emirates. Interpol is actively tracking these centers, which are described as a form of human trafficking. The transcript outlines the methodical process of these scams. Scammers identify potential targets by analyzing social media and dating apps for individuals who appear lonely, isolated, recently divorced, or bereaved. They gather extensive information before making contact, sometimes initiating conversations with a feigned accidental message. The entire operation is meticulously planned, with workers using scripts and pre-determined dialogue. The initial phase involves weeks of innocuous daily exchanges to build trust and rapport, characterized by a complete absence of impatience, allowing scammers to spend months cultivating a single target. The scam progresses when a fabricated "need" arises, such as a request for money to visit, a gift held up in customs, or even extreme medical emergencies, complete with fake medical certificates and fabricated doctor communications, as in Anne's case. Victims are subjected to relentless reminders and pressure. The recruitment into scam centers is equally deceptive. Individuals are not recruited through explicit "scammer wanted" ads but through seemingly legitimate job offers abroad, complete with contracts and paid travel. The reality upon arrival is starkly different: confinement in guarded buildings, constant surveillance, and severe punishments for failing to meet financial targets, including food deprivation, torture, and rape. A critical issue highlighted is the legal predicament of these forced workers. When authorities dismantle scam centers, the individuals who were coerced into committing crimes are often treated as suspects themselves. Lacking identification and legal aid, they can be arrested and tried for offenses they were forced into. While international principles state that victims of trafficking should not be prosecuted for acts committed under duress, this is not always applied in practice. The persistent nature of these scam centers, with new ones emerging as old ones are dismantled, makes combating this phenomenon extremely difficult. The transcript concludes by reframing Anne's story, suggesting that the individual who defrauded her might not be a malicious con artist but a victim of modern slavery. This underscores the profound and disturbing reality that by falling victim to these scams, individuals may unwittingly be financing human trafficking and modern slavery. The true danger, therefore, extends beyond financial loss to the ethical implication of unknowingly supporting such exploitative systems.