UNODC: Southeast Asian Cyberfraud Organizations Deploying New Technology – 2024
UNODC: Southeast Asian Cyberfraud Organizations Deploying New Technology
United Nations Issues Warning About Expanding Organized Crime
Primary Category: Organized Crime
Authors:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime
About This Article
Industrial-scale cyberfraud operations in Southeast Asia are evolving rapidly due to technological advancements and the increasing professionalization of transnational criminal networks. These operations, often linked to sophisticated underground banking and money laundering organizations, are outpacing governmental efforts to contain them.
A recent UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) meeting highlighted the urgency of addressing this threat, which includes hundreds of scam centers and thousands of trafficked individuals working in illicit industries. Countries like the Philippines have banned certain gambling sectors to curb these activities. Despite efforts to dismantle cyber-enabled fraud operations, organized crime groups are diversifying and moving into more remote areas, utilizing deepfakes and malware.
