{"id":102268,"date":"2026-07-28T09:32:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/un-warns-criminal-gangs-trafficking-hundreds-of-thousands-into-online-scam-operations\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T09:32:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:32:06","slug":"un-warns-criminal-gangs-trafficking-hundreds-of-thousands-into-online-scam-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/un-warns-criminal-gangs-trafficking-hundreds-of-thousands-into-online-scam-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Warns Criminal Gangs Trafficking Hundreds of Thousands into Online Scam Operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

GENEVA \u2014 The United Nations’ migration agency is raising serious concerns about criminal networks that have been trafficking hundreds of thousands of people into online scam operations, and officials say the problem is getting worse.<\/p>

The International Organization for Migration reports that victims are frequently deceived by fraudulent job advertisements \u2014 spread mainly through social media \u2014 that promise legitimate employment overseas. Once they arrive, victims find themselves locked up, stripped of their identity documents, and forced to take part in online scams through violence, threats, and a practice known as “debt bondage.”<\/p>

“We’re seeing so many more of these cases emerge right now,” IOM Director-General Amy Pope told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday. “We’re seeing victims from over 80 different countries being trafficked into the scams.”<\/p>

Pope noted that the criminal networks are deliberately targeting people with strong English skills and higher education. “They’re recruiting people who often speak English very well, who often have graduate degrees, some level of education,” she said, adding that the cases are “specifically playing out across Asia.”<\/p>

The agency pointed to estimates from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime showing that financial losses across east Asia, Australia, and New Zealand totaled as much as $114 billion last year. Officials also noted that so-called “scam compounds” across the region may be holding hundreds of thousands of trafficked workers at any given time.<\/p>

Between 2022 and 2025, the IOM said it provided assistance to more than 3,500 victims of forced criminality who came from nearly 40 different countries. Those most affected included people from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The United Nations migration agency is sounding the alarm over a growing wave of human trafficking tied to online fraud. Victims from more than 80 countries \u2014 many of them educated English speakers \u2014 are being lured by fake job postings and forced to work in scam centers across Asia. The agency says financial losses linked to these operations reached as much as $114 billion last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":102267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-102268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1785245525979.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-qBu","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":99494,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fbi-director-meets-with-cambodian-leader-to-fight-billion-dollar-online-scam-networks\/","url_meta":{"origin":102268,"position":0},"title":"FBI Director Meets With Cambodian Leader to Fight Billion-Dollar Online Scam Networks","author":"Admin","date":"July 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"FBI Director Kash Patel traveled to Cambodia to meet with Prime Minister Hun Manet, discussing joint efforts to crack down on massive international online scam operations. These fraud schemes cost victims in the Asia-Pacific region alone an estimated $114 billion in 2025, according to the United Nations. The visit followed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784730687338.jpg?fit=798%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784730687338.jpg?fit=798%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784730687338.jpg?fit=798%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784730687338.jpg?fit=798%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36023,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodia-creates-first-anti-scam-law-after-promising-april-shutdown\/","url_meta":{"origin":102268,"position":1},"title":"Cambodia Creates First Anti-Scam Law After Promising April Shutdown","author":"Admin","date":"March 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cambodian officials have developed new legislation specifically aimed at dismantling online fraud operations that have bilked victims worldwide out of billions annually. The proposed law includes prison sentences up to 30 years for operators and comes as the government claims to have shut down 200 suspected scam locations since July.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773401863124.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773401863124.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773401863124.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773401863124.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98733,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/un-report-asian-crime-networks-using-ai-and-tech-to-fuel-global-criminal-empire\/","url_meta":{"origin":102268,"position":2},"title":"UN Report: Asian Crime Networks Using AI and Tech to Fuel Global Criminal Empire","author":"Admin","date":"July 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A new United Nations report reveals that criminal organizations based in Southeast Asia are leveraging advanced technology and artificial intelligence to expand their illegal operations worldwide. Scams alone are projected to cost victims between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion in 2025. The report also highlights serious dangers posed to children\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784633471557.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784633471557.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784633471557.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784633471557.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56850,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-administration-targets-asian-cybercrime-network-sanctions-cambodian-senator\/","url_meta":{"origin":102268,"position":3},"title":"Trump Administration Targets Asian Cybercrime Network, Sanctions Cambodian Senator","author":"Admin","date":"April 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Trump administration has launched a major offensive against Southeast Asian cybercrime operations, sanctioning 29 individuals and companies including a Cambodian senator. The crackdown targets scam operations that cost Americans nearly $21 billion in 2025, with authorities seizing assets and pursuing criminal charges against Chinese nationals.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777030756993.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777030756993.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777030756993.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777030756993.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44497,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodia-passes-harsh-new-law-against-online-scam-operations\/","url_meta":{"origin":102268,"position":4},"title":"Cambodia Passes Harsh New Law Against Online Scam Operations","author":"Admin","date":"March 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cambodia's parliament unanimously approved legislation targeting cybercrime operations with penalties up to life imprisonment. The new law addresses fraudulent investment and romance scams that bilk victims worldwide of billions annually.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774874304485.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774874304485.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774874304485.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774874304485.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98572,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/un-asia-pacific-scam-gangs-stole-over-88-billion-in-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":102268,"position":5},"title":"UN: Asia-Pacific Scam Gangs Stole Over $88 Billion in 2025","author":"Admin","date":"July 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Criminal networks operating across Asia-Pacific defrauded victims of at least $88 billion in 2025, according to a new United Nations report. The gangs are rapidly adapting their methods, using artificial intelligence and expanding into new regions to avoid law enforcement. Corruption and sophisticated criminal infrastructure are fueling the explosive growth\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784607419159.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}