Madagascar: 13 Chinese-run online scam centers dismantled

Authorities in Madagascar, the United States, and China have dismantled 13 online scam centers operated by Chinese nationals. The operation, which involved the U.S. Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force, resulted in the arrest of approximately 500 individuals worldwide, including about 100 in Madagascar. Investigators seized data from more than 3,200 electronic devices.

In Madagascar, 160 Chinese nationals were convicted for their roles in the fraudulent schemes, receiving prison sentences ranging from two to ten years. A first group of 50 convicts has already been transferred to China to serve the remainder of their sentences. The investigation also targeted the leadership of these networks, with U.S. officials seeking to identify at least 30 Chinese executives linked to the operations.

Parallel to the arrests, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Xinbi Guarantee, a clandestine platform operating on Telegram, and two other entities accused of supporting the fraudulent activities. The Scam Center Strike Force, established in November 2025, reported that it has helped freeze or seize approximately $938 million in digital assets linked to money laundering from such scam centers.