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IOM warns of trafficking into online scams; UN observes World Hepatitis Day
Summary
Ahead of the July 30 World Day Against Trafficking, IOM warned hundreds of thousands have been trafficked into online scams and estimated combined regional losses of $88.3–$114.1 billion for 2025; the briefing also noted World Hepatitis Day and 1.3 million deaths from chronic hepatitis B and C in 2024.
The International Organization for Migration warned that hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have been trafficked by criminal networks and forced to take part in online scams, spokesperson Farhan said.
Farhan cited IOM and new UN offices' estimates that combined annual losses from scam offenses across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand could be between $88,300,000,000 and $114,100,000,000 for 2025, and that between 2022 and 2025 IOM assisted more than 3,500 victims of trafficking for forced criminality from 39 countries.
Separately, Farhan noted that the briefing coincided with World Hepatitis Day and quoted a figure of 1,300,000 reported deaths from chronic hepatitis B and C in 2024, stressing the theme "hepatitis, let's break it down" and the need to remove barriers to lifesaving services.
The briefing did not announce new UN-led campaigns beyond urging continued support for IOM and public-health measures to expand access to hepatitis prevention and treatment services.
