FOLLOWING the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs because of the lockdowns and have been desperately looking for financial support. So, if a tempting job opportunity came knocking, it would naturally be hard to resist. The harsh reality for those traveling overseas for work, however, is that they risk falling victim to human trafficking, a new form of transnational crime that is preying on people around the world.

The following type of exchange crops up very often in recent cases of these new types of transnational crime: 'Late at night, just as I was thinking of my loved one, who works abroad, I got an SMS from her. She said how wonderful and easygoing her job was and hoped that I could join her there. She said that together, we could work toward a better future.' Does this sound familiar?