You know those annoying scam calls you get where you hang up on the caller before they even finish their sentence? Did you know they might also be a victim?
When we think of cyber crime, many of us imagine shadowy figures in hoodies, working alone behind a screen. But the reality is far more complex and confronting.
In some cases, the people running scams aren’t hardened criminals or cyber masterminds. They’re victims themselves.
Scam farms are organised criminal operations where scams are run at scale, often through call centres or coordinated online activity. They’re designed to defraud people around the world using tactics like romance scams, phishing, and impersonation. But what’s more disturbing is the growing link between scam farms and human trafficking.
Some scam farm workers have been lured with fake job offers, only to have their passports taken, their communications monitored, and their lives threatened.
In a recent report from ABC News, one man described being tricked into travelling to Myanmar for what he believed was a legitimate job. Once there, he was forced to create fake online profiles posing as women, scamming victims across the globe.
This isn’t an isolated case. Scam farms have been reported in parts of Southeast Asia and are becoming an urgent human rights concern as well as a cyber security one. The people caught in these operations are often as much a victim as those they’re forced to scam.
But here’s the critical link: these scam operations rely on access to stolen data. Without it, they lose their power.
That’s why protecting your information — both personally and professionally — is more important than ever. Every time we ignore a suspicious link, question a strange request, or secure our devices, we’re not just keeping ourselves safe. We’re cutting off the resources that allow scam farms to operate.
So, the next time you receive a dodgy text or unexpected phone call, think twice, and act smart.
For extra peace of mind, enrol in the free Cyber Wardens training program. It’s full of simple, actionable tips to help keep your business safe from dark web dangers and other cyber threats.
