Criminal gangs increasingly lure people to work in online scam centers, UN migration agency warns
Summary
The United Nations migration agency says criminals are forcing many people to work in online scam centers. Victims are often tricked by fake job ads, then trapped and forced to commit scams, with many coming from over 80 countries.Key Facts
- Criminal gangs are trafficking hundreds of thousands of people to work in online scam operations.
- Victims are lured by fake job offers, usually through social media, promising work abroad.
- Once trapped, victims have their ID documents taken and are forced by violence, threats, or debt to participate in scams.
- Many victims are educated, speak English well, and often have graduate degrees.
- Most cases are happening across Asia, involving people from nearly 40 countries.
- Countries heavily affected include Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh.
- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates losses from scams in East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand reached $114 billion last year.
- The International Organization for Migration helped over 3,500 victims of forced criminality linked to these scams from 2022 to 2025.
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