Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims
Human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights, frequently intersects with financial crimes, notably identity theft and coercive debt accumulation. This creates complex challenges for victims, survivors, and law enforcement. Victims of human trafficking are often coerced and/or threatened into...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Michael Schidlow |
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| author_sort | Michael Schidlow |
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| description | Human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights, frequently intersects with financial crimes, notably identity theft and coercive debt accumulation. This creates complex challenges for victims, survivors, and law enforcement. Victims of human trafficking are often coerced and/or threatened into committing various forms of crime, referred to as “forced criminality.” In recent years, this trend of criminality has moved from violent crimes to financial crimes and fraud, including identity theft, synthetic identity fraud, and serving as money mules. This phenomenon, termed “forced fraud”, exacerbates the already severe trauma experienced by victims (referred to as both victims and survivors throughout, consistent with trauma-informed terminology) trapping them in a cycle of financial instability and legal complications. Traffickers often coerce their victims into opening credit lines, taking out loans, or committing fraud all in their own names, leading to ruined credit histories and insurmountable debt. These financial burdens make it extremely difficult for survivors to rebuild their lives post-trafficking. This paper explores the mechanisms of forced fraud, its impact on survivors, and the necessary legislative and financial interventions to support survivors. By examining first-hand accounts and social and policy efforts from a range of sources, this paper highlights the urgent need for comprehensive support systems that address both the immediate and long-term financial repercussions of human trafficking. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ffb52ea2f712492f9fec63fbb8b4e7b5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ffb52ea2f712492f9fec63fbb8b4e7b52025-08-20T03:32:33ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-06-0114739810.3390/socsci14070398Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking VictimsMichael Schidlow0Department of Criminal Justice and Security, Pace University, New York, NY 10038, USAHuman trafficking, a grave violation of human rights, frequently intersects with financial crimes, notably identity theft and coercive debt accumulation. This creates complex challenges for victims, survivors, and law enforcement. Victims of human trafficking are often coerced and/or threatened into committing various forms of crime, referred to as “forced criminality.” In recent years, this trend of criminality has moved from violent crimes to financial crimes and fraud, including identity theft, synthetic identity fraud, and serving as money mules. This phenomenon, termed “forced fraud”, exacerbates the already severe trauma experienced by victims (referred to as both victims and survivors throughout, consistent with trauma-informed terminology) trapping them in a cycle of financial instability and legal complications. Traffickers often coerce their victims into opening credit lines, taking out loans, or committing fraud all in their own names, leading to ruined credit histories and insurmountable debt. These financial burdens make it extremely difficult for survivors to rebuild their lives post-trafficking. This paper explores the mechanisms of forced fraud, its impact on survivors, and the necessary legislative and financial interventions to support survivors. By examining first-hand accounts and social and policy efforts from a range of sources, this paper highlights the urgent need for comprehensive support systems that address both the immediate and long-term financial repercussions of human trafficking.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/7/398fraudhuman traffickingvictim-centered justiceforced criminalitymoney launderingsurvivor advocacy |
| spellingShingle | Michael Schidlow Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims Social Sciences fraud human trafficking victim-centered justice forced criminality money laundering survivor advocacy |
| title | Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims |
| title_full | Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims |
| title_fullStr | Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims |
| title_short | Forced Fraud: The Financial Exploitation of Human Trafficking Victims |
| title_sort | forced fraud the financial exploitation of human trafficking victims |
| topic | fraud human trafficking victim-centered justice forced criminality money laundering survivor advocacy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/7/398 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelschidlow forcedfraudthefinancialexploitationofhumantraffickingvictims |