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People smugglers using Facebook to advertise: experts of UN agency

Xinhua, December 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

People smugglers have been using Facebook to advertise to Afghans and Syrians wishing to flee to Europe, experts from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) was quoted as saying here on Monday.

According to an Austria Press Agency report, UNHCR staff had examined hundreds of Facebook posts and Youtube videos made in Arabic, Pashto, and Dari in the past months and found numerous such offers made largely without any inhibitions.

The experts said sales tricks are employed to lure the potential customers in, including making false claims such as a "100 percent recognition rate in Austria" for their asylum applications, claiming that they have many years of experience, and their practice is legal.

Some had even posted positive reviews from allegedly satisfied customers.

It was also noted that since the closure of the Western Balkans migration route and the EU refugee deal with Turkey, the price advertised on Facebook has risen sharply. Endit