Increase in robberies targeting blind masseurs in Myanmar

Blind massage therapists receiving training. - Myanmar National Association of the Blind

YANGON: The Myanmar National Association of the Blind (MNAB) has raised concerns over a growing number of robbery incidents targeting blind massage therapists, often lured under the guise of home service requests.

An MNAB official stated, “These cases have increased significantly. That’s why we issued a public statement. Scammers call requesting home massage services, only to rob the therapist of their mobile phones. Previously, such incidents were rare, but they have become frequent lately.”

According to the association, perpetrators use various methods to deceive the therapists. In some instances, they invite therapists to massage parlours and rob them en route. In other cases, they lure them to apartments, where the robberies occur.

The official also noted that some parlors fail to take responsibility for the safety of their therapists, prompting the association to issue warnings. - Eleven Media/ANN