UNODC/L. Gil Behind millions of fraudulent transactions are hundreds of thousands of victims: they are recruited through fake job vacancies, held in secure premises and forced to commit crimes. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: Transnational criminal conglomerates confront law enforcement Peace and Security
The United Nations estimates that criminal groups currently force more than 300,000 people in Southeast Asia to commit cybercrime, including online fraud operations, often operating under harsh and degrading conditions. The data was released on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is observed on July 30.
At the end of 2025, identified victims of human trafficking who were forced to participate in fraudulent schemes included representatives of almost 80 nationalities. While Southeast Asia remains the primary hub in this area, the model has expanded to the Middle East, Africa, Eastern and Southeast Europe, South Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. No region is immune from this problem, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned on Thursday.
Fraud centers are run by highly organized transnational criminal networks. In Southeast Asia alone, UNODC estimates that cyber fraud generated between $18 billion and $37 billion in illicit profits for criminals in 2023.
UN chief calls on countries to join forces
UN Secretary-General’s message on World Day against Trafficking in Persons highlights that the fastest growing form of exploitation of victims human trafficking is becoming a forced online scam.
Around the world, people are lured by promises of legitimate work, only to find themselves in the hands of transnational criminal networks and engaged in fraud under the threat of violence. Such operations generate billions of dollars for criminals, and modern technology, including artificial intelligence, allows them to operate with unprecedented speed.
The UN head called on states to join forces – from interaction between intelligence services and financial regulators to stopping the flow of illegal income. António Guterres recalled that countries adopted the UN Convention against Cybercrime in 2024, and called on governments to speed up its ratification, combat corruption that facilitates the operation of criminal networks and require technology companies to prevent abuse on their platforms. Separately, the Secretary General emphasized the need to support people who have survived exploitation in scam centers. 2024, became the third most common in the world.
The group’s experts noted that behind millions of fraudulent transactions there are hundreds of thousands of victims: they are recruited through fake job vacancies, held in secure premises and forced to commit crimes. Those affected are increasingly those with education, language skills and digital skills.
Women in these situations are also at risk of sexual violence. Increasingly, children are being recruited to participate in fraudulent schemes on digital platforms.
Refugees, migrants, and stateless persons remain especially vulnerable to human traffickers – lack of documents, lack of information and economic instability make them easy prey for criminals.
Corruption and participation of officials in criminal operations allow criminal schemes expand, experts emphasize.
They also note that victims often end up in prisons and deportation centers – they are punished for crimes to which they were forced. This violates their right to protection, prevents them from seeking help and strengthens the impunity of criminal groups.
The UN emphasizes that human trafficking in any form is a gross violation of human rights. The international community must act in concert to protect victims and prevent criminal networks from using technology and global connections to exploit people.