Report airs concern over trafficking

Meeting discusses rise in online scams that pose threats to safety of migration

Human trafficking for forced criminality, including committing online scams and financial fraud, has been a growing trend in the Asia-Pacific region over the past four years, posing threats to migration safety, according to a UN report.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, human trafficking related to illegal activities by call centers has accelerated, particularly in Southeast Asia, according to the second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

The report, released by the United Nations Economic and Social Council at a three-day meeting in Bangkok that ended on Thursday, noted that most victims in these scam operations are recruited through fraudulent job advertisements for skilled positions on messaging apps and social media.