FBI Warns of Crypto Human Trafficking Rings in Asia – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States has issued a cautionary alert regarding fraudulent job advertisements designed to entice individuals to Southeast Asia. These ads aim to trap people into participating in international cryptocurrency scams without their consent, with victims being held against their will.
Typically, these fraudulent operations employ social media platforms to post enticing job opportunities that offer high salaries. Once victims arrive at their destination, their passports are confiscated, and they are coerced into engaging in scams that target unsuspecting individuals. Disturbingly, if the victims are unsuccessful in their fraudulent activities, they reportedly face severe consequences such as torture, abuse, murder, or even being sold to other criminal networks.
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In a recently issued statement, the FBI advised both US citizens and individuals residing or journeying abroad to exercise caution regarding fraudulent job ads associated with human trafficking. The law enforcement agency highlighted that perpetrators, with a focus on Asia, exploit unsuspecting victims through deceptive employment schemes, disseminating false job postings on social media platforms and online job portals.
According to the FBI, these deceitful employment opportunities can encompass various roles, such as tech support, call center customer service, and beauty salon technicians. In order to entice victims, the perpetrators dangle attractive incentives, including generous benefits, salaries, and accommodations. Subsequently, the victims are coerced into repaying an accumulating debt, which includes expenses such as travel fees, accommodation, and living expenses.
Unfortunately, the situation worsens as they are frequently sold to other criminal organizations, exacerbating their financial burdens. The FBI has outlined several precautionary measures to help individuals avoid falling victim to such schemes. These measures include conducting thorough research on the company advertising the job before accepting any offers, being cautious of “vague language” or limited employment information provided by the company, and exercising caution when encountering job advertisements offering unusually high salaries and numerous perks.
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Amidst a series of reports concerning crypto scam rings exploiting enslaved individuals, the FBI’s recent warning gains significance. In November of the previous year, the Cambodian government faced severe criticism for allegedly disregarding Chinese criminal networks that trafficked nearly 100,000 migrant workers and forced them into operating online scams, including fraudulent cryptocurrency initial coin offerings (ICOs).
More recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) rescued 1,000 victims of human trafficking who were coerced to work up to 18 hours a day in cryptocurrency scams earlier this month. Following the dismantling of the scam ring, authorities apprehended 12 individuals suspected of leading the operation.