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The UN warns about the “cancer” of cybethafas that extends from Southeast Asia to everyone

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Asian criminal groups behind himA multimillionaire industry of cyber scams They are expanding globally, even to South America and Africa, while the raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities, as explained by the United Nations in a report on Monday.

The criminal networks that emerged in Southeast Asia in recent years, opening extensive complexes that house tens of thousands of workers, many of them victims of trafficking and forced scams worldwide, have become a sophisticated global industry, warns The United Nations Office against Drug and Crime (UNODC).

Although the Governments of Southeast Asia have intensified surveillance, the bands have moved inside and outside the region, according to the aforementioned agency, which adds that “there has been a potentially irreversible infection effect that leaves criminal groups free to choose and move as necessary.”

“It spreads like cancer,” he says John Wojcikregional analyst at UNODC. «The authorities treat it in an area, but the roots never disappear; simply migrate ».

The most conservative estimates indicate that they exist Hundreds of crime farms On a large scale worldwide that generate tens of billions of dollars in annual profits, according to UNODC. The agency urges countries to collaborate and intensify efforts to dismantle band financing.

5,600
Millions of dollars

Losses due to scams in cryptocurrencies in 2023 in the United States, according to UNODC

“The regional cyber fraud industry has surpassed other transnational crimes, since it is easily scalable and capable of reaching millions of online potential victims, without the need to move or traffic illicit goods through borders,” said Wojcik.

Only the United States reported more than 5.6 billion in losses for cryptocurrency scams in 2023, including more than $ 4 million in the called slaughter scams or romantic scams Designed for extort money to often greater and vulnerable.

Global expansion

In recent months, China’s authorities, where many of the bands are originally from, Thailand and Myanmar have led an offensive against fraudulent operations in areas without law of the border between the two countries. Among other emergency solutions, Thailand has cut the supply of electricity, fuel and the Internet to the areas where scam complexes are found.

However, criminal groups have adapted, moving their operations between “the most remote, vulnerable and less prepared areas of Southeast Asia”, especially in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodiaand beyond, exploiting jurisdictions with weak governance and high corruption indices, said the UNODC.

“The regional cyber fraud industry has surpassed other transnational crimes, since it is easily scalable and capable of reaching millions of potential victims online, without the need to move or traffic illicit goods through borders”

John Wojcik

UNODC Director

The raids in Cambodia areas where the industry is more visible “led to a significant expansion in more remote places,” including the western province of Koh Kong, as well as border areas with Thailand and Vietnam.

New sites in Myanmar, a country immersed in an expanding conflict since the military took power four years ago. The spokesmen of the Cambodian government and the Junta de Myanmar did not respond immediately to the requests for comments.

Unions have expanded to South America, said the UN agency, seeking to improve money laundering and clandestine banking associations with South American drug cartels.

They are establishing more and more operations in Africa, Even in Zambia, Angola and Namibia, and in Eastern Europeincluding Georgia.

Gangs have also quickly diversified their workforce, recruiting people from dozens of nationalities, according to the agency, reflecting how the industry scams people around the world and has tried to evade efforts against trafficking.

Citizens from more than 50 countriesfrom Brazil to Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, were rescued during recent repressions at the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

The international community is at a critical turning point, says UNODC, warning that not addressing the problem would have unprecedented consequences for Southeast Asia with global repercussions.


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