Claire Braaten, a criminology professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, will speak about her latest research on internet scams and their ties to human trafficking from 5 to 6 p.m. April 13 Room 223 of the Central Academic Building.
The guest lecture is sponsored by Aspiring Attorneys, Mock Trial and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Chapter.
Attendees will learn how romance scams and job offers can entangle victims into trafficking.
“If you’re not aware of the dangers of romance, of online fraud,” Braaten said, “you could be depleted of your life savings.”
Braaten has a Ph.D in criminal justice and studies the causes and motives behind crime. Her current research examines scam compounds in Southeast Asia, where victims are coerced into committing online fraud after they themselves were deceived by fraudulent job offers.
“A lot of these, they responded to employment like job ads,” Braaten said. “And then when they got there, their passports were confiscated and then they were beaten.”
Braaten said the issue has grown alongside increased internet use. She said anyone can become a victim if they are not aware of how these scams work.
“So the purpose of my talk on April 13 would be to look at it from a criminological perspective,” Braaten said. “How did these scam compounds arise? What are the origins of these scam compounds? How did they originate? How did they exist continually? How did they grow? And how are they able to traffic victims into these scam compounds?”
Audience members will learn the importance of online safety, how dangerously easy it is to become a victim of human trafficking in this modern day of technology and steps people can take to be safe.
“If you don’t know that person then you don’t need anything from that person. Just don’t respond,” Braaten said. “If you have a relationship with that person, let’s say friendship or relationship, and that person suddenly asks for money from you, be aware.”
For more information, visit https://tamusa.campuslabs.com/engage/event/12311770
