Document Forgery and Migration: The Role of Document Fraud in Human Trafficking Networks

Abstract

This report investigates a specific aspect of human trafficking known as “DaaS” (Digital as a Service), focusing on the digital production and sale of forged personal documents used in illegal migration. The study reveals how the rise of social media, digital tools, and AI has fueled a growing market for document fraud, enabling migrant smuggling and related crimes. It identifies global travel agencies—especially in Africa, the Far East, Dubai, and Turkey—as key actors in recruiting clients, producing fake documents, and coordinating travel logistics. Document quality and pricing vary depending on the client’s financial means, ranging from scams to high-end services involving cryptocurrency or real estate payments. These documents are primarily used to reach non-EU countries bordering the Schengen Area, from where migrants continue overland with the help of trafficking networks. The research highlights the sophisticated and well-connected infrastructure linking digital platforms, travel agencies, and smuggling networks across origin, transit, and destination countries.