In recent years, Bangladeshi aspirant migrant workers and immigration seekers have become primary targets of sophisticated online fraud, recruitment scams, and financial deception. These threats — delivered via social media groups, messaging apps, fake mobile apps, online betting traps, and fraudulent payment flows — have reached deep into villages and vulnerable communities.
As digitisation of the migration process accelerates, the scale and technical sophistication of these criminal networks are also increasing. This study is a root-cause investigation explaining why digital vulnerability has become a significant migration risk in Bangladesh.
Objectives
To identify root causes of digital vulnerability among Bangladeshi migrant aspirants and to produce evidence-based guidance and a participatory curriculum to reduce digital and financial risk at the grassroots level.
- Map how digital deception reaches aspirant workers at the village level.
- Analyse classical cases showing recurring scam modalities using migration networks.
- Co-design a practical, low-literacy curriculum and delivery model for digital & financial literacy suited to grassroots contexts.
Outcomes
This study identifies the common digital recruitment scams and fraud techniques that are targeting Bangladeshi aspirants. Which institutional factors drive digital vulnerability? How do aspirant migrant workers’ digital behaviours and financial practices interact with scam vectors?
This initiative will move beyond symptom-spotting to identify root causes and produce practical solutions — an evidence-based curriculum and pilot that can be taken up by BMET, CSOs, and community trainers.
Keywords
Migration Risk, Digital Vulnerability, Digital Literacy, Recruitment Network, Cross-border Syndicates, Digital Scams
