A United Nations report says criminal groups based in Southeast Asia are using technology and increasingly integrated networks to expand both within and beyond the region. The report describes an illicit economy that is growing rapidly, supported by tools that help criminals coordinate activities and reach victims across borders. It says online-enabled fraud and other scams are a major part of the scale of harm, with frauds linked to online scams costing victims more than $88 billion each year. The UN report also characterizes the criminal activity as “tentacled,” indicating that the networks and their operations extend well beyond Asia rather than remaining confined to one area. While the report does not single out one specific country or group in the provided excerpts, it emphasizes that technology is playing an enabling role in the expansion and that the effects are felt by victims internationally. The reporting across outlets aligns on the core message: Southeast Asia-based criminal networks are increasingly interconnected, technologically supported, and responsible for significant economic losses to victims worldwide, particularly through online scams.