UN report: $88 billion lost to cyber‑fraud scams in Asia‑Pacific

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report estimating that scams across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand cost victims between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion in 2025 – a sum larger than the GDP of several regional nations. The report describes the criminal networks as operating like corporate franchises, with specialised units for money laundering, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and data harvesting, all linked through a shared service‑based infrastructure.

Criminal groups increasingly use artificial intelligence, generative AI, cryptocurrency and encrypted communications to evade law‑enforcement, expand recruitment beyond the region and target victims in at least 80 countries. They exploit corruption and “jurisdiction shopping,” relocating from Myanmar and Laos to East Timor, Pacific islands and parts of Africa when pressured by authorities. Children are especially vulnerable, with a surge in AI‑generated sexual images and exploitation through online gaming and gambling platforms.

The illicit economy also spans drug, firearms, tobacco and wildlife trafficking, with estimated annual drug sales of up to $109 billion. The Sulu‑Celebes maritime triangle – Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines – is highlighted as a key corridor for cocaine shipments from Latin America to Asia. Despite law‑enforcement actions and some high‑profile extraditions, the sophisticated, tech‑driven crime ecosystem continues to grow.