Transnational organized crime groups in East and Southeast Asia are expanding their scam operations worldwide. A UN report reveals that these groups have increasingly shifted operations from Southeast Asia to other regions. Southeast Asian scam centers have spread to Africa, Latin America, and beyond, capitalizing on weak law enforcement in remote areas. These centers, which defraud victims through various scams, generate nearly $40 billion annually.
The report, titled “Inflection Point,” highlights the global implications of scam centers, underground banking, and illicit online marketplaces.
The operations have been shifting in response to growing crackdowns by local authorities in Southeast Asia. UNODC’s Benedikt Hofmann explained that this shift is both a response to regional pressure and an expansion of the industry’s reach. Crime groups are targeting vulnerable areas with insufficient law enforcement to sustain their operations.
Crackdowns have been reported in various regions, including Africa, where Nigerian authorities have arrested many involved in cryptocurrency and romance scams. Zambia and Angola have also uncovered Asian-led cyberfraud operations. Meanwhile, Latin America, particularly Brazil, faces increasing challenges with cyber fraud, online gambling, and money laundering linked to Southeast Asian crime groups.
In Peru, over 40 Malaysian victims were rescued after being trafficked and forced into cyber fraud.
The report also points out that the involvement of global criminal groups in these operations is rising. As technology advances, scam operations are becoming more sophisticated with tools like artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies. These innovations allow criminals to bypass crackdowns, making the global cybercrime industry more resilient. Governments need to be prepared for this growing threat as it intensifies across regions.
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