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ABUJA – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned that human trafficking is increasingly taking a digital dimension, with traffickers using fake job offers, social media and online advertisements to lure unsuspecting victims into cybercrime operations across the world.
Speaking at the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Abuja, UNODC said this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” highlights the growing trend of people being deceived into travelling abroad before being forced to carry out online fraud for organised criminal syndicates.
The agency explained that victims are often promised employment, education, business opportunities or a better life overseas. However, upon arrival, many have their passports confiscated, their movements restricted and are subjected to threats, violence and exploitation in so-called “scam compounds.”
According to UNODC, victims are compelled to engage in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, investment scams and other forms of cyber-enabled financial crimes targeting people across different countries.
The organisation stressed that while victims of online scams deserve justice, authorities must also recognise that some individuals carrying out these fraudulent activities are themselves victims of trafficking who have been coerced into committing crimes.
UNODC noted that trafficking in persons is increasingly linked with cybercrime, money laundering, corruption and transnational organised crime, making stronger international collaboration essential to dismantle criminal networks.
The agency urged law enforcement authorities to adopt victim-centred and rights-based approaches by screening suspected cybercrime offenders for possible trafficking indicators before prosecution.
Citing findings from its Nigeria Country Report on Trafficking in Persons 2025, UNODC revealed that online recruitment through fake employment, education and migration opportunities is becoming increasingly common across Nigeria.
The organisation also disclosed that consultations across 21 states showed traffickers continue to exploit economic hardship and migration aspirations to recruit victims through deceptive online platforms.
UNODC further revealed that Nigeria is witnessing emerging signs of the “scam-compound” model already documented in parts of Southeast Asia, where victims are forced to operate online fraud schemes under strict control.
To address the challenge, the agency announced that on April 30, 2026, it supported the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to establish a Joint Operational Task Force under the European Union-funded Promoting Action and Cooperation among Countries at Global Level against Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants (PACTS) project.
The Task Force is expected to coordinate intelligence gathering, preserve digital evidence, conduct financial investigations, identify victims and strengthen cross-border cooperation against trafficking and cybercrime.
Looking ahead, UNODC outlined five priority areas for action: strengthening victim protection, fully operationalising the Task Force, improving digital and financial investigations, expanding international cooperation and intensifying public awareness to prevent deceptive recruitment.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in preventing trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting criminal networks profiting from human exploitation.
UNODC also commended NAPTIP, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), INTERPOL, civil society organisations and development partners for their continued collaboration in combating human trafficking.
The organisation called for stronger partnerships to ensure technology is used to promote human dignity rather than facilitate exploitation, while urging governments and stakeholders to remain united in protecting vulnerable people from falling victim to organised criminal networks.
