International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that online scam centres have become one of the fastest growing forms of human trafficking worldwide, with victims from more than 80 countries being deceived into joining criminal operations. Speaking in Geneva ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, IOM Director General Amy Pope said organized criminal networks are increasingly using fraudulent online recruitment campaigns to lure individuals into scam compounds operating across South East Asia. According to IOM, these highly organized operations employ an estimated 300,000 workers in countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, where victims are forced to participate in online fraud schemes targeting people around the world. The agency emphasized that the growing scale of these operations has turned online scam centres into a major international trafficking concern requiring stronger cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies.
Amy Pope explained that criminal organizations are increasingly targeting educated jobseekers through fake employment advertisements posted on social media and online platforms. Many victims possess university degrees and strong English language skills, making them attractive targets for recruiters who promise legitimate employment opportunities abroad. Once individuals arrive at scam compounds, they often discover that the advertised jobs do not exist. According to IOM, victims frequently have their passports confiscated upon arrival and are subjected to physical abuse, psychological intimidation, and restrictions that prevent them from leaving the facilities. Pope described these operations as highly organized and highly profitable criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals through deception and coercion. The agency noted that many victims remain trapped for months or even years while being forced to carry out online scams targeting primarily older people in Western countries. Recent estimates from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime indicate that global financial losses linked to online scam operations reached between $88 billion and $114 billion during the previous year, highlighting the significant financial impact of these criminal activities.
IOM reported that it has assisted more than 3,500 survivors from 33 countries who managed to escape or were rescued from scam compounds across the region. According to the agency, many survivors return home carrying severe psychological trauma while also facing financial hardship after accumulating debt during the recruitment process or losing their savings while attempting to secure overseas employment. Pope warned that survivors are frequently treated as criminals rather than victims despite being forced to participate in fraudulent activities through violence, threats, and coercion. She stressed that recognizing these individuals as victims of human trafficking is essential to ensuring they receive appropriate protection, rehabilitation, and support. The organization also emphasized that stronger cross border cooperation is needed to identify trafficking networks, improve prevention measures, and disrupt the organized criminal groups responsible for operating these scam centres.
International Organization for Migration has called for continued international support to protect trafficking victims through safe return, reintegration programs, and long term assistance while expanding public awareness campaigns that educate people about deceptive recruitment tactics used by criminal organizations. The agency urged governments, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration aimed at preventing trafficking before individuals become trapped in fraudulent employment schemes. Amy Pope emphasized that people held inside scam compounds should be recognized as victims who have been forced to commit crimes under threats and violence rather than being viewed as willing participants. She stated that governments must work together to support survivors, dismantle trafficking networks, and close the gaps that organized criminal groups continue to exploit. According to IOM, improving public awareness and strengthening international coordination remain essential steps in reducing the growing threat posed by online scam centres and protecting individuals from deceptive recruitment practices that lead to human trafficking.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
