Romance Scams and Human Trafficking
Unsuspecting Americans are not the only victims in these online fraud scams. In many cases, the perpetrators themselves are victims of human trafficking, who are forced to work with no pay, little sleep, and no freedom to leave.
The global COVID-19 pandemic left many people financially devastated and desperate for hope. In many cases, victims respond to online ads promising employment overseas with high salaries. People with certain skillsets are especially targeted, such as those with English and/or Chinese language proficiency. Then they are deceived and arrive at a secure compound comprised of “fraud dens” that are run by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO). Their passports are confiscated, and they are forced to pay back their "debt" by working long hours. They also face physical and sexual abuse, restrictions on movement, and starvation.
Many of these "fraud dens" are in countries with pervasive government and law enforcement corruption. However, online fraud scams are highly profitable, and this crime model is quickly spreading throughout the world.
How HSI Combats Romance Scams
Most romance scams originate overseas and are often run by TCOs, which pose significant multi-jurisdictional challenges to U.S. law enforcement.
To combat TCOs involvement in romance scams, HSI partners with other U.S. agencies including:
- U.S. Secret Service
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- DHS Office of the Inspector General
- DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- Federal Bureau of Investigations
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- Internal Revenue Service
- Commodity Futures Trade Commission
- Federal Trade Commission
To combat TCOs, HSI and its partner agencies have worked with the Department of Justice to produce a coordinated enforcement and prosecution effort. This effort involves law enforcement working jointly with prosecutors, our foreign law enforcement partners and the financial industry. This collaboration has led to a more cooperative law enforcement effort that will eventually lead to the disruption and dismantlement of the TCOs that victimize our citizens.
HSI identifies and seizes assets derived from romance scams, disrupting criminal enterprises and taking away their profits. When possible, working in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office and foreign governments, HSI will return funds to victims in restitution. Oftentimes, TCOs are engaged in many types of illicit financial crimes, not just romance scams.
HSI leads the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) to advance counter human trafficking law enforcement operations, protect victims and enhance prevention efforts. CCHT works jointly with other headquarters components to further enhance investigative efforts and identify TCOs using fraud scheme to exploit and traffic individuals for financial gain.
HSI and its partner agencies work to spread awareness of deceptive employment ads and online fraud scams. Our Victim Assistance Program provides a critical resource to HSI investigations and criminal prosecutions. We work to help victims who have escaped from "fraud dens" and identify the perpetrators to shut down the TCOs and assist victims of human trafficking.
