In a recent report presented in Bangkok, it was revealed that cyber scams carried out by criminal groups in Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, and Laos generate around 43.8 billion dollars annually, which accounts for 40% of the combined GDP of the three countries. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) highlighted that powerful criminal organizations, many with connections to China, have established Southeast Asia as a hub for cyber scams, defrauding people globally but particularly in China and the United States.
The report titled “Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Threat to Global Peace and Security,” emphasized that these criminal groups exploit hundreds of thousands of workers who are lured with job offers and forced into fraud activities resembling slavery. These groups use advanced technology to commit scams and earn billions of dollars.
According to the report, criminal organizations in Burma and Cambodia have links to corrupt elements in authorities, creating a dangerous network of crime. While Burma had been a major center for cyber scams, activities have shifted to the border with Thailand after a crackdown by guerrillas on the military junta forces.
These criminal organizations not only engage in cyber scams but also run illegal betting operations and use their networks to launder money in Southeast Asian countries, Hong Kong, and Dubai before investing in real estate in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Last year, the United Nations reported that at least 120,000 people were being held in centers in Burma, forced to carry out scams while an estimated 100,000 people are engaged in similar activities in Cambodia.