TECH
The UN warns that the cyberscam industry is rapidly expanding beyond Southeast Asia into South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
By Aniket Chakraborty
Apr 24, 2025
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Criminal networks have evolved into highly mobile operations, relocating to underregulated areas with weak governance to evade law enforcement.
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Large-scale scam farms are generating tens of billions of dollars annually by exploiting trafficked workers to target victims worldwide.
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The US alone reported over $5.6 billion in cryptocurrency scam losses in 2023, with the elderly being particularly targeted.
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Despite crackdowns in Southeast Asia, scammers have moved operations to countries like Laos and Cambodia, where enforcement is weak.
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The UN warns that failing to address this issue could create a permanent borderless criminal industry, exploiting vulnerable populations.
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Scams targeting elderly individuals, including romance and pig-butcher schemes, have cost millions in fraud.
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The UN urges global cooperation to disrupt the financing and operations of these criminal networks to prevent further expansion.
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The UNODC warns that unchecked cyberscam growth could undermine global financial systems and economies.
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Urging nations to act decisively, the UN emphasizes the need for a coordinated global response to tackle the growing cyberscam industry.
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