The UN warns that global scam call centers are spreading like a cancer, with criminal syndicates expanding and operating worldwide. Crackdowns in East and Southeast Asia have led to operations shifting to more permissive regions, including Africa, South Asia, parts of the Pacific Islands, and even links to money laundering and recruitment in Europe and North America. These groups leverage local language skills to broaden their victim pool and drastically increase profits. The report estimates annual earnings between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion, targeting regions with weak governance. Law enforcement actions have resulted in arrests of foreign nationals involved in fraud and cybercrime; for example, 77 suspects, including 22 Chinese nationals, were arrested in Zambia in April 2024. While reliable data is limited in South America, Asian criminal groups are expanding online fraud and gambling infrastructure and forging money laundering partnerships with local drug cartels. In Europe, Georgia and Turkey have emerged as cyberfraud hotspots. Additionally, criminal syndicates establish seemingly legitimate businesses (hotels, casinos, travel agencies) in Pacific island nations to conceal illegal online gambling, drug and human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and money laundering. The UN recommends strengthening regulatory frameworks and equipping authorities with the resources to combat these crimes.
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