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UN Migration Agency Warns of Criminal Gangs Luring Workers to Online Scam Centers

Published July 29, 2026 at 8:32 AM UTC

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The United Nations' migration agency has raised alarms over a significant rise in human trafficking cases linked to online scam centers. Criminal networks are increasingly luring individuals, often educated and fluent in English, through fraudulent job advertisements on social media platforms. These victims are then trafficked, detained, and coerced into conducting scams under threats, violence, and debt bondage. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that victims from over 80 countries have been affected, with the problem especially prevalent in Asia. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that scam operations in East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand caused up to $114 billion in losses last year. These scam centers may confine hundreds of thousands of trafficked workers. From 2022 to 2025, IOM has assisted over 3,500 victims, most originating from countries including Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh.