A United Nations office says scam gangs defraud people across Asia-Pacific of at least US$88 billion in 2025, with one report citing figures of up to US$114 billion. The UN describes criminal networks that once operated within specific territories or in particular illicit activities as increasingly expanding into multiple illegal markets. It says these groups also use shared services, allowing them to coordinate operations and adapt more quickly. The UN further characterises scam activity as increasingly transnational, with crime groups evolving tactics to stay ahead of law enforcement efforts. In addition to cross-border reach, the UN assessment highlights how scam operations continue to change in response to crackdowns, which can make them harder to disrupt. While the outlets differ on the upper bound of the estimated losses, they report the same overall UN message: scam networks are scaling up across the region and adopting more flexible, networked models that support continued fraud.
UN says scam crime gangs in Asia-Pacific take at least $88 billion in 2025
A United Nations office says scam gangs defraud people across Asia-Pacific of at least US$88 billion in 2025, with one report citing figures of up to US$114 billion. The UN describes criminal networks...
- The UN reports that scam gangs in Asia-Pacific defraud residents in 2025 on a very large scale, with estimates cited as at least US$88 billion and up to US$114 billion.
- The UN describes scam networks as increasingly transnational, expanding beyond earlier, more limited territories or illicit trades.
- Criminal groups are said to use shared services and coordinated operations to run scams across multiple illegal markets.
- The UN says scam groups evolve tactics to stay ahead of law enforcement.
- The assessments are attributed to a UN office focused on crime and drugs in the region (UNODC).
Scam gangs defrauded Asia-Pacific residents of up to $114 billion in 2025, a UN office said, with transnational crime groups rapidly evolving tactics to stay ahead of law enforcement.
3 hours agoNetworks that once operated within specific territories or illicit trades are increasingly expanding across multiple illegal markets while using shared services, said Delphine Schantz, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
9 hours agoScam gangs defrauded Asia-Pacific residents of at least $88 billion in 2025, a United Nations office said on Tuesday, with transnational crime groups rapidly evolving tactics to stay…
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