A network that operates illegal scam centres, which trick victims across the world out of substantial sums of money and torture their trafficked workers, is today (14 October) sanctioned by the UK and US governments.

Across Southeast Asia, scam centres are using sophisticated schemes, including scams in which people are lured into fake romantic relationships, to defraud victims on an industrial scale, including in the UK. Those conducting the scams are often trafficked foreign nationals, trapped and forced to carry out online fraud under threat of torture.

As part of the crackdown, a £12 million mansion in North London, owned by a multi-national network responsible for using forced labour to conduct online scams, has been frozen.

The leader of the network, Chen Zhi, and his web of enabl

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