In 2025, the damage from scam operations in East and Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand is estimated to be between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion. This estimate comes from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its report.
The authors emphasized that this is an approximate estimate. The methodology considers officially registered losses and the estimated share of victims who do not report to authorities. Data from different countries may vary in how they classify scam schemes.
For comparison, in 2023, losses from scams in East and Southeast Asia were estimated at $18 billion to $37 billion. According to UNODC, the 2025 figure for these subregions is approximately three times higher.
Among the countries and territories with the highest officially registered losses for 2024-2025, experts identified China ($5.1 billion), South Korea ($3.5 billion), and Taiwan ($2.8 billion).
Regional share of estimated losses from scam operations in 2025 and officially registered losses by country. Source: UNODC.Criminal Groups Unite Infrastructure
UNODC described the current situation as a restructuring of the regional criminal economy. The agency estimates that fragmented syndicates have transformed into a transnational network with a shared infrastructure for fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, illegal migrant smuggling, data collection, and criminal services.
Dolphin Schantz, UNODC's regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, compared this model to corporate franchising.
“[...] imagine specialized departments for money laundering, human trafficking, illegal migrant smuggling, and data collection, all connected to one interlinked service network,” she explained.
UNODC's lead analyst, Inshik Sim, stated that the scale and complexity of this criminal economy “outpace existing responses.”
A significant portion of operations is linked to scam centers, which are large isolated complexes where people are held and forced to work in online fraud schemes, including investment and romance scams.
Known, publicly reported, or disclosed scam centers in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Source: UNODC.Cryptocurrencies Identified as Payment Infrastructure
The report highlights the role of cryptocurrencies in transactions and money laundering. According to UNODC, criminal groups systematically use digital assets, encrypted communications, AI, satellite communications, and underground data markets to mitigate risks and expand operations.
The agency specifically points to USDT on the TRON network. The authors estimate that this combination has created a parallel financial system for nearly instant, low-cost, and pseudonymous cross-border transfers. Through P2P platforms, over-the-counter brokers, and underground banking networks, criminal groups convert fiat to stablecoins and back. These services help circumvent banking controls and move funds across jurisdictions.
UNODC called for training law enforcement to track and confiscate crypto assets. According to Schantz, simply disrupting operations is insufficient if the revenues of criminal networks remain out of reach.
AI and Satellite Communications Strengthen Scam Networks
UNODC noted that criminal groups actively use generative AI, deepfakes, encrypted messengers, satellite communications, and data markets. These tools help scale attacks, bypass checks, and operate in remote areas.
Generative artificial intelligence lowers the technical barrier for complex fraud schemes. The report states that small groups can use AI translation, character generation, phishing texts, voice cloning, and real-time deepfake videos.
UNODC also recorded a 42% year-on-year increase in the use of legitimate advertising networks to spread malware or phishing pages in 2025.
Diagram of deepfake exploitation chain. Source: UNODC.The agency also mentioned satellite internet, including Starlink. According to UNODC, this legal infrastructure allows criminals to rely less on local telecom operators and operate in hard-to-reach areas.
Recruiters Seek People Beyond Asia
Scam compounds in the region have identified individuals from at least 80 countries and territories. Recruitment networks use transit hubs in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
UNODC noted that operators are expanding their search for employees and victims beyond the region. Job postings allegedly linked to scam centers have included requirements for knowledge of German, Polish, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, French, Swedish, Norwegian, and English.
The report specifically states that such postings should not be considered confirmed cases of human trafficking. They indicate an expansion of recruitment geography and the risk that new workers may end up in forced criminal activities.
UNODC also points out that forceful pressure on specific sites does not dismantle the infrastructure. Networks change jurisdictions, fragment operations, and resume activities through new nodes.
In June, the U.S. Department of Justice reported the seizure of a cloud account used by Huione Group structures for services related to the transfer and laundering of funds from crypto scams.
Previously, the UN highlighted the use of USDT in romance scams and illegal online casinos in Southeast Asia.