A hidden criminal economy is booming across Southeast Asia, turning once-quiet border towns into global hotspots for online scams. The situation is so bad that the international community has responded strongly, including with sanctions.
What started as small casino operations has grown into a global powerhouse of cybercrime, costing victims billions and fueling corruption across multiple countries.
How COVID-19 Lockdowns Supercharged Online Fraud
When COVID-19 shut borders and halted tourism, scam groups in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos shifted into online fraud. Many operated inside casino towns, special economic zones, and free trade areas where oversight was weak and corruption ran deep. These groups built walled compounds guarded by private security, militias, or local strongmen, transforming them into massive cybercrime factories.
By 2023, Southeast Asia had become one of the world’s main hubs of digital fraud, targeting victims from Asia to
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