INTERPOL’s latest report, Crime Trend Update: Human Trafficking-Fuelled Scam Centres (30 June 2025), highlights the growing globalization of scam operations and their links to transnational crime.
As of March 2025, victims from 66 countries have been trafficked into online scam centres. INTERPOL analysis shows no continent remains untouched.
While 74% of victims are still in Southeast Asia, West Africa is now emerging as a major regional hub, alongside Central America and the Middle East.
In West Africa, operations in Côte d’Ivoire in 2024 rescued 33 trafficking victims and resulted in over 300 arrests connected to scam centres.
Analyses also revealed that trafficking routes often overlap with other illegal trades, including firearms, drugs, and wildlife, revealing a complex web of transnational criminal networks.
Technology is scaling the threat: AI and deepfake technologies are now increasingly used in both recruitment and fraud, enhancing both the reach and sophistication of scams.
The dramatic rise in online scams that began during COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down.
INTERPOL has issued an Orange Notice, warning that this crime trend poses a serious and imminent threat to public safety worldwide.
👉 Click here to read the full report