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ISTANBUL - Transnational scam operations originating in East and Southeast Asia are rapidly spreading across the globe, the United Nations warned in a new report issued on Monday.
According to the report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organised crime groups have expanded their networks beyond Asia, adapting to increased crackdowns by shifting operations to regions with weaker law enforcement, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
These criminal groups are responsible for billions of dollars in losses due to romance scams, fraudulent investment schemes, and illegal online gambling, the report said.
Scam compounds have long operated in border areas of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines, constantly relocating to evade authorities.
However, the new report warns that fraudulent activities are now being observed in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and selected Pacific islands, along with associated crimes such as money laundering, trafficking in persons, and recruitment scams extending as far as Europe, North America, and South America.
The report, Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking, and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia, details how these syndicates are operating.
The UNODC warns that without prompt international cooperation, the rapid global expansion of these criminal enterprises could escalate beyond control. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU