Vatican News: Human trafficking is becoming more complex as criminal networks increasingly use digital platforms and online scams to exploit vulnerable people, according to Talitha Kum International, a global network of Catholic sisters working to combat human trafficking.
Ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, Talitha Kum released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the growing threat posed by online recruitment scams and digital exploitation. This year's global observance carries the theme "Trapped Behind the Scam," drawing attention to the rising number of people lured into forced labour and other forms of exploitation through fake job offers and online deception.
Although traditional slavery has long been outlawed, an estimated 50 million people around the world are still living in conditions of modern slavery. Human trafficking has also become one of the world's most profitable criminal activities, generating about $236 billion in illegal profits every year, according to estimates by the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration.
Sr Abby Avelino, International Coordinator of Talitha Kum, said the crime is expanding in increasingly sophisticated ways as technology becomes part of everyday life.
She explained that many of the survivors assisted by the network were first contacted through digital platforms where they were promised good jobs or better opportunities. However, after arriving at their destination, they discovered the jobs did not exist, had their passports confiscated, and were deprived of their freedom.
According to Sr Abby, criminal organisations are deliberately targeting young people through social media and online recruitment because many are searching for employment and a better future. She warned that digital technology, while offering many opportunities, has also become a powerful tool for traffickers to deceive and control victims.
The concerns raised by Talitha Kum are echoed by international agencies. Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, recently warned that online scam centres are expanding rapidly, with victims identified from more than 80 countries, particularly across Asia.
United Nations reports also point to the enormous scale of the problem. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that scam operations cause billions of dollars in financial losses each year. Across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, hundreds of thousands of trafficked individuals are believed to be forced to work in scam compounds operated by organised criminal groups.
Despite these challenges, Talitha Kum reported significant progress in its outreach efforts. During the past year, the organisation reached about 1.21 million people worldwide, representing an increase of nearly 30 percent compared to the previous year.
The report highlights several areas of work, including prevention, assistance for survivors, legal support, advocacy and partnerships with local communities and international organisations.
One of the network's key strategies is education. Through its Youth Ambassadors programme, Talitha Kum trains young people to recognise the warning signs of human trafficking and online scams. These young ambassadors then return to their schools, communities and countries to educate others and raise awareness among their peers.
The organisation is also using the same digital platforms exploited by traffickers to spread information about online safety. It has expanded its presence through social media campaigns as well as television and radio programmes to educate the public about the risks of trafficking.
Sr Abby stressed that helping survivors goes beyond rescue operations. She said those who have experienced trafficking should be given opportunities to share their experiences, participate in shaping solutions and receive long term support that helps them rebuild their lives with dignity.
She also called for greater efforts to address the root causes that make people vulnerable to traffickers, including poverty, inequality and conflict. According to her, many people migrate because they hope to find safety, employment or a better future, only to fall into the hands of criminal networks.
She said ending human trafficking requires cooperation at every level, from local communities to national governments and international organisations. Prevention, education, protection and stronger advocacy are all essential to tackling the growing challenge.
Sr Abby also emphasised that children should learn from an early age about the dangers of human trafficking and how it spreads, especially in the digital world.
She said people must remember that behind every statistic is a human life, a personal story and a family affected by exploitation. Talitha Kum's mission, she added, is built on the belief that every person has dignity and that no one should ever be treated as a commodity.