Human trafficking-related cyberfraud, characterized by victims being coerced into online scamming after responding to fraudulent job advertisements, is increasingly prevalent worldwide, according to Interpol.
Global crime trends: Most cases were found in Southeast Asia, but forced labor scam centers are emerging in Latin America, as per the international crime-fighting entity.
* Interpol’s first investigation dedicated to this issue emphasized the gravity of the emerging crime pattern that involves multiple countries and continents.
Real Life Scenarios: An October case has been cited where Ugandan citizens were coerced into defrauding banks after being transported across multiple countries.
* Another case involved 40 Malaysian citizens being lured to Peru to commit telecommunications fraud.
* This past year in Myanmar, local authorities rescued trafficking victims from 22 countries.
Mechanism of Human Trafficking-led Cyberfraud: Predators pose as job recruiters on social media, promising high salaries to potential victims with English-speaking proficiency or a technical background.
* Upon reporting for their “first day at work”, victims are taken to remote scam centers and forced into illegal cyber activities, such as online gambling, investment schemes, or romance scams, to pay off their “debt”.
* They can be held captive for months to years at a time, often deprived of basic needs such as food, water, medication, and communication.
Evolution of Crime: The 2023 U.S. State Department report linked the growth of human trafficking-fueled cyberfraud to the pandemic, when global job losses drove people to spend more time online.
View original article on NPR
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