Dhaka: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed its intervention in aiding more than 3,500 victims of trafficking for forced criminality, spanning 39 countries in South-East Asia, with the majority of cases originating from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh between 2022 and 2025. This announcement comes as part of the organization’s efforts in combating the widespread issue of human trafficking in the region.
According to United News of Bangladesh, criminal networks have trafficked hundreds of thousands of individuals globally, coercing them into participating in online scams within a multibillion-dollar criminal industry. This revelation was made ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed on July 30, under the theme “Trapped Behind the Scam.” To enhance its response, IOM is advocating for ongoing support to assist trafficking victims through protection, safe return, and reintegration. The organization urges increased efforts to raise awareness about traffickers’ tactics, enabling individuals to recognize risks and seek help.
Victims are frequently deceived by fraudulent job advertisements promising legitimate work abroad. Upon arrival, they are confined within compounds, stripped of their documents, subjected to constant surveillance, and coerced through violence, threats, and debt bondage to engage in online scam operations targeting a global audience. Survivors have reported enduring torture, sexual abuse, starvation, and solitary confinement.
“People trapped in scam compounds are victims of trafficking, forced to commit crimes through violence, threats, and coercion. They deserve protection, not punishment,” stated IOM Director General Amy Pope. She emphasized the necessity of collective efforts to support survivors, dismantle trafficking networks, and address the vulnerabilities exploited by these criminal entities. She added that no single country can tackle this issue alone.
The magnitude of this crime is substantial. Recent data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that the combined annual losses from scam offenses in East Asia, South-East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand range between US$ 88.3 billion and $114.1 billion for 2025 alone. Much of this is linked to organized crime, with scam compounds across the region believed to house hundreds of thousands of trafficked workers.
As trafficking for forced criminality continues to proliferate across Asia and beyond, IOM has unveiled its new Regional Strategy Response to Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality in Asia and the Pacific (2026-2030). This strategy delineates IOM’s vision for addressing one of the fastest-growing forms of human trafficking, with a strong emphasis on victim protection, prevention, cross-border cooperation, and robust partnerships to dismantle trafficking networks.
The core message of this year’s campaign is unequivocal: individuals coerced into committing crimes within scam centers are victims of trafficking, not criminals, and should be protected, not penalized. Rescue is merely the initial step, as survivors often confront severe trauma, stigma, debt, missing identity documents, and the fear of prosecution, necessitating sustained support to ensure their safe return home and successful reintegration.
IOM’s comprehensive response includes identifying victims, referring them to protection services, providing direct assistance, coordinating with consular authorities, supporting safe return and reintegration, and collaborating with governments and law enforcement partners to enhance victim identification, cross-border cooperation, and accountability for traffickers.