Thousands of Indonesians Trapped by Job Scam Scams: The Modus Operandi Revealed
Online job scams have become a primary entry point for human trafficking in the digital era. This modus operandi targets not only domestic job seekers but also lures victims into working in scam compounds abroad. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) cited by Jobstreet by SEEK, cases of human trafficking for forced criminality related to online scam operations in Southeast Asia rose from 296 cases in 2022 to 978 in 2023. Although the figure decreased to 492 cases in 2024, it remains approximately 66% higher than the 2022 level.
“Many victims are recruited through fake job advertisements and misleading migration schemes before being forced to work in online scam centres,” stated Jobstreet by SEEK in a press release. United Nations reports estimate that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and around 100,000 in Cambodia have been trafficked to run online scam operations. Victims are moved across borders, and their identity documents are confiscated, while criminal activities are disguised as legitimate digital work.
Indonesia is among the affected nations. Data cited by Jobstreet shows that more than 3,200 Indonesian citizens have been recorded in online scam cases in Southeast Asia. Of that number, over 1,100 individuals have been identified as victims of human trafficking. Most victims reported being enticed by high-salary job offers abroad promoted via private messages, chat groups, or unverified advertisements.
The threat of human trafficking is not limited to cross-border movement. Based on SIMFONI PPA data for the 2021-2025 period, at least 1,276 adult women and 44 adult men have fallen victim to human trafficking, alongside 1,096 girls and 137 boys. These figures are believed to represent only a small fraction of the actual cases occurring.
Abie Sancaya, National Programme Officer for UNODC Indonesia, noted that criminals are increasingly utilising digital technology to recruit and exploit victims through various online platforms using increasingly complex methods. He emphasised that cross-sector collaboration, including with job search platforms like Jobstreet, is essential to increase public awareness of misleading recruitment tactics.
As a preventive measure, Jobstreet has strengthened its platform security, including company document verification, AI-powered advertisement screening, special inspections for high-risk sectors and countries, and the provision of reporting channels for suspicious advertisements. Sawitri, Head of Country Marketing Indonesia for Jobstreet by SEEK, stated that job scams are an increasingly frequent method used to ensnare victims, making platform security and integrity a priority through multi-layered verification and early detection.
Jobstreet also advises job seekers to always use official recruitment platforms, be wary of unrealistic salary offers, never pay recruitment fees, protect personal data, and ensure the legality of work permits when accepting overseas job offers.