23.04.2025 14:51:00
Дата публикации
The large-scale cyberfraud industry, once concentrated in Southeast Asia, is rapidly expanding worldwide. According to UNODC, criminal syndicates are adapting to government pressure by moving operations to new regions.
The report highlights a highly organized transnational system. Criminals create entire “scam farms” housing tens of thousands of workers to deceive internet users.
Common scams include investment traps, cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams targeting vulnerable users globally. In 2023 alone, East and Southeast Asia lost over $37 billion.
The US recorded over $5.6 billion in losses, mostly from long-term online scams preying on elderly victims.
UN experts warn: suppressing crime in one region simply pushes it elsewhere.
Today, cyberfraud hubs are active in South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and some Pacific islands.
Criminal centers exploit weak legal frameworks and infrastructure gaps, especially in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia border areas.
According to UNODC analyst John Wojcik, cyberfraud scales faster than other crimes since no physical goods need to cross borders.
The UN calls this a "critical inflection point" and urges collective action to prevent global repercussions.
(Automatic translation)
