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crime11h ago
Age of the ‘scam state’: how an illicit, multibillion-dollar industry has taken root in south-east Asia
- The Mekong region has become a global hub for sophisticated scam operations, generating tens of billions in revenue.
- Experts say scam centres are increasingly state-embedded, shaping economies and even political power.
- Pig-butchering scams drive profits, with victims often losing large sums through online relationships and crypto investments.
- Cyber crime networks originate largely from China but operate across south-east Asia’s borders.
- Authorities have launched high-profile crackdowns, though observers call them largely performative.
- Campaigns monitor scam activity, tracing channels, police reports and satellite data to identify compounds.
- Cambodia faced major DoJ seizures, underscoring how illicit funds are tied to national economies.
- Victims worldwide lose vast sums, with some reports detailing average losses around six figures per person.
- The phenomenon is described as the era of a 'scam state,' reshaping economies and governance.
- Regional leaders and officials are under international pressure to crack down, but broader reform remains elusive.
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