A United Nations agency has warned that online scam centres are driving human trafficking worldwide, with victims from more than 80 countries lured in through fake job offers on social media.
Key facts
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that online scam centres are fuelling human trafficking worldwide.
- Victims come from more than 80 countries, according to the IOM chief.
- People are being lured through fake job offers posted on social media.
- The warning was reported by Al Jazeera on July 28, 2026.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that online scam centres are fuelling human trafficking on a global scale, according to Al Jazeera. The UN agency’s chief said the operations are drawing in victims from across the world.
According to the report, victims come from more than 80 countries. That geographic spread underscores the scale of the problem and suggests the recruitment networks behind these scam centres reach far beyond any single region.
The IOM chief said victims are lured into the scam centres through fake job offers advertised on social media. These deceptive listings appear to promise legitimate employment before people are drawn into the operations.
The warning highlights the intersection of technology and human trafficking, with social media platforms being used as a recruitment tool by those running the scam centres.
Al Jazeera reported the comments on July 28, 2026. The agency’s statement frames online scam centres as a driver of trafficking that affects a wide range of countries rather than an isolated or localised issue.
Why it matters
The warning links the fast-growing world of online scams to serious human rights abuses, showing that people can be trafficked through something as ordinary as a job advertisement. With victims spanning more than 80 countries, the issue affects communities far beyond where the scam centres physically operate.
Frequently asked questions
How are people being lured into scam centres?
According to the IOM chief, cited by Al Jazeera, victims are lured through fake job offers posted on social media.
How many countries are affected?
The IOM chief said victims come from more than 80 countries.
Which agency issued the warning?
The warning came from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, as reported by Al Jazeera.