Emerging Cyber Scams Trend in Southeast Asia and Addressing Its White-Collar Trafficked Victims
Emerging Cyber Scams Trend in Southeast Asia and Addressing Its White-Collar Trafficked Victims

Summary/Abstract: Southeast Asia has seen a surge in cybercrimes exploiting the growing digital landscape, affecting individuals, businesses, and governments. The problem roots in traditional transnational crimes with criminal networks moving across Southeast Asia, particularly to Cambodia and Myanmar due to increased scrutiny in China. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened cyber scams, expanding online operations in gambling and underground banking, leading to labor shortages and the emergence of “job scams” targeting people in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Macau. The growth of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Southeast Asia and the Casinos in the region also significantly contribute to illicit economies, serving as smuggling hubs, dealing with regulatory challenges, and fostering illicit demand. Addressing cyber scams in Southeast Asia requires collaboration among governments, law enforcement, businesses, civil society, and the public. The comprehensive strategy would involve education, collaboration, legal frameworks, capacity building, public-private partnerships, international cooperation, technological solutions, consumer protection, victimcentered approaches, incident response mechanisms, and continuous monitoring and evaluation.

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