ASEANAPOL, Interpol Warns Of Gruesome Crimes Linked To Growing Transnational Scam Operations
By Vijian Paramasivam
PHNOM PENH, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- International security agencies continue to warn of the growing threat of large-scale fraud, human trafficking and abuses linked to growing transnational scam centres in Southeast Asia.
At the 93rd Interpol’s General Assembly held in Marrakech, Morocco, from Nov 24 to 27, the global police highlighted the ghastly crimes experienced by innocent victims, including physical violence, sexual exploitation, torture and rape.
Interpol Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza said that improving information sharing and coordinated actions were crucial to counter these criminal networks.
“Interpol is committed to supporting the resolution’s implementation and working with member countries to break these operations apart and protect the people who are most at risk,” said Urquiza, according to Interpol’s website.
Interpol further added: “Often under the pretext of lucrative overseas jobs, victims are trafficked into compounds where they are forced to carry out illicit schemes such as voice phishing, romance scams, investment fraud and cryptocurrency scams targeting individuals worldwide.”
While the assembly was going on in Morocco, Myanmar security forces carried out massive anti-scam operations to cripple international gangs operating in the country.
Myanmar authorities dismantled 256 buildings out of 635 illegal buildings in the KK Park area, a notorious epicentre for scam operations.
While at the 43rd ASEANPOL Conference held under the theme “Collaboration in Action - Crushing Scams, Disrupting Fraud and Protecting People”, in Bangkok, from Nov 3 to 7, officials also warned of the growing cross-border crime harming regional security.
“Discussions focused on joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, terrorism, the illegal arms trade, human trafficking, wildlife crimes, financial crimes, cybercrimes, and maritime crimes,” reported state media The Global New Light of Myanmar.
The two key meetings held this month only amplify the rising risks of transnational crimes, especially online fraud and gambling, which have spread across Southeast Asia and claimed innocent victims around the globe.
The United States (US) Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, in September, sanctioned large scam centres across Southeast Asia that stole billions of dollars from Americans using forced labour and violence, said the department’s website.
“Southeast Asia’s cyber scam industry not only threatens the well-being and financial security of Americans but also subjects thousands of people to modern slavery.
“In 2024, unsuspecting Americans lost over US$10 billion (RM41 billion) due to Southeast Asia-based scams,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.
In its June report, Interpol revealed that human trafficking-fuelled scam centres have expanded their global footprint.
“As of March 2025, victims from 66 countries were trafficked into online scam centres, with no continent left untouched.
“Seventy-four per cent of human trafficking victims were brought to centres in the original ‘hub’ region of Southeast Asia,” it said.
About 90 per cent of human trafficking facilitators were from Asia, and 11 per cent were from South America or Africa.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says Southeast Asia-based transnational criminal groups are turning into “criminal service providers” selling a range of illegal activities.
“There has been a proliferation of illicit operations, known as scam farms, following the COVID-19 pandemic, in Southeast Asia, including in the Philippines, where they have often operated alongside legal gambling businesses,” said UNODC.
-- BERNAMA
