Sophisticated online job scams, many highly qualified people are also victims

Not only fraud, human trafficking is also a painful, urgent and topical problem in recent times, according to experts.

At a recent seminar to learn about common forms of online job fraud organized by the US Embassy in Hanoi, experts cited the 2022 report on the human trafficking situation by the Ambassador. Consulate General and the US Consulate General in Vietnam announced that human traffickers have taken advantage of unemployment due to the pandemic to lure Vietnamese people with false promises of work opportunities in Vietnam. foreign. Many people are then tricked into being sold to the border areas of China, Cambodia, Laos and many other countries.

Human traffickers are increasingly using the internet, gaming websites, and social networks to lure victims and spread human trafficking activities. Online fraud has become an extremely popular tactic.

Experts at the US Embassy spoke at the discussion on March 19. (Photo: Phuong Thao)

Fraud tricks are increasingly sophisticated

In the current era of globalization and digitalization, human trafficking is common, mainly through social networks. Accordingly, the stages from approaching and convincing the victim until the human trafficking transaction can completely take place online.

Mr. Duy Vi, co-CEO of Blue Dragon organization, shared that the method scammers use today is to use fake identities, join groups such as looking for jobs online and wait for prey.

This person will post job vacancies for popular, easy-to-do jobs with high salaries. The victims are often people who need to find jobs and earn extra income.

Ms. Ly is a specific case rescued by the Blue Dragon organization, having fallen into the above scam. She was forced to go to Myanmar and work for an online fraud facility. Although we have researched very carefully, the scammers are very sophisticated, they have offered attractive invitations with authentic and extremely convincing information.

Fraudsters have increasingly sophisticated tricks with excellent ability to manipulate and build trust and relationships. Fraud methods change constantly and often target the needs and desires of victims.

Victims of human trafficking can be anyone

The huge impact of Covid-19 has made human trafficking activities increasingly complicated. Human traffickers can be anywhere, in Vietnam or abroad, they can deceive and sell people in a far away place, another country.

According to the perspective of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam, Ms. Hoai Phuong believes that victims are not only women and girls from ethnic minorities, living in remote areas, and families with poor families. disadvantaged people, with low education levels, including men, with diverse ages and educational levels.

Most of the victims graduated from high school or even had university degrees and spoke foreign languages.

Notably, in a typical case of being rescued at Blue Dragon, the victim was also an accountant and good at English. She and her husband are both considered highly educated people. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, they lost their jobs. After seeing a job advertisement online, they and their two young children were tricked into being sold to Cambodia.

Mr. Duy Vi informed that Blue Dragon has even rescued doctors, journalists and people who have graduated from university. Traffickers take advantage of the desire to find a suitable job with a desired salary to make themselves victims.

In the form of online job fraud, Mr. Duy Vi warns that when approaching a group of scammers, the information shared by the subject may be incomplete, the place of work, the name of the company working is unclear, and the description of the subject may not be clear. Job description is vague and not commensurate with abilities; Meeting locations change frequently and border crossings are carried out without a passport.

Fraudsters can keep the victim's documents for control and control. They forced the victim not to talk to strangers around her, contact her family, or share about her workplace. After that, they gradually forced the victim to do unwanted jobs such as serving at a karaoke bar, followed by having sex with customers.

What to do when you become a victim?

When victims discover they have been deceived, they also contact non-governmental organizations such as fanpages Think Ahead, Step Next of IOM, Blue Dragon or Hagar, Mr. Duy Vi advised victims to contact 111.

After receiving information, the 111 switchboard will coordinate with relevant authorities such as the Vietnamese police to bring the victim back. However, organized criminal gangs operate in special economic zones, with strict security systems, and even possess weapons. Therefore, rescuing the victims is not easy.

According to Hagar's statistics, there are 76 cases where full information has been provided to the organization, but so far only 52 cases have been rescued. Rescue time can be up to 5 months.

Speakers shared at the discussion. (Photo: Le Nhan)

Every individual who intends to migrate should take the following steps: find out information on the fanpage Think Ahead, Step Next of IOM; save phone number 111 and share with anyone; All information needs to be communicated to relatives and family; Remember at least the phone number of the Embassy or Consulate at the place you are going.

Because, anyone, regardless of gender or education level, can become a victim of human trafficking, especially through online job fraud.