BRUSSELS, (Unib Rashid) – The European Union has warned that criminal networks are increasingly exploiting victims through digital scam centres, forcing them into cyber-enabled fraud and other illicit activities. The EU says its proposed new sanctions regime aims to disrupt the criminal organizations behind these operations while strengthening protection and support for victims.

According to the EU, transnational organized crime groups are using sophisticated digital deception to recruit and exploit thousands of people worldwide. From Southeast Asia and Latin America to West Africa and beyond, victims are lured with fake job offers. Instead of legitimate employment, they find themselves confined in illegal compounds against their will and forced to participate in large-scale online financial fraud schemes.

The EU described scam centres as a growing security threat at the intersection of human trafficking, cybercrime, financial fraud, money laundering, and corruption. It warned that the threat is rapidly evolving in the digital age, requiring coordinated international action.

To address the challenge, the European Union is implementing a comprehensive strategy focused on prevention, stronger law enforcement cooperation, and a human rights-based approach that places victims at the centre of its response. On 9 July 2026, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented proposals for a new EU sanctions framework designed to target the criminal networks responsible for trafficking and related organized crimes.

The proposed sanctions regime would enable the EU to impose restrictive measures against individuals and entities involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, illicit drug trafficking, money laundering, and other serious forms of organized crime. These measures include asset freezes, bans on providing funds or economic resources, and travel restrictions aimed at disrupting the financial networks that enable criminal organizations to operate across borders.

The EU stressed that dismantling these complex criminal networks requires strong international cooperation. It highlighted its longstanding partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which supports crime prevention agencies, criminal justice institutions, and victim assistance organizations worldwide.

Together, the EU and UNODC provide training for investigators, prosecutors, and criminal justice professionals across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America to strengthen investigations, identify victims, dismantle trafficking networks, and improve access to justice and support services.

Marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026, the European Union and UNODC issued a joint statement expressing concern over the growing use of scam centres in human trafficking operations. They called for urgent, coordinated international action to combat this emerging form of trafficking and ensure effective protection for victims.

The EU also works closely with ASEAN partners, the Council of Europe, Interpol, and the G7 to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts, improve law enforcement cooperation, and enhance victim protection. Through regional initiatives such as the ESIWA+ (Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia) programme, the EU supports policy dialogues and high-level seminars aimed at addressing the expanding threat posed by scam centres.

The European Union reaffirmed that the fight against human trafficking remains a core element of its values and policies. Its response is based on a comprehensive, human rights-based, gender-sensitive, and child-centred approach in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.