Asia’s Massive Scam Crackdown: Over 1,800 Arrests Freeze $20 Million in Fraud

In a sweeping joint operation across Asia, law enforcement agencies from six countries—Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Maldives—arrested over 1,800 suspects by May 28, seizing nearly $20 million through the freezing of approximately 33,000 bank accounts.

According to Hong Kong police, the crackdown targeted an extensive network of scam operations—including online shopping fraud, telephone schemes, investment scams, and sham employment offers—run through Asia-based scam hubs. Arrested individuals ranged from 14 to 81 years old, highlighting the widespread involvement in such syndicates  .

In one high-profile incident in March, a Singaporean finance director was deceived into transferring $499,000 to a scammer impersonating their CEO via deepfake video. Fortunately, the funds were recovered thanks to swift cross-border cooperation  .

Investigations revealed that many scam compounds are located in border regions of Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, where workers are often held under conditions likened to “virtual slavery”  . A UN Office on Drugs and Crime report issued in April warned that these transnational crime networks are evolving rapidly, making them increasingly difficult to detect and dismantle  .

This crackdown showcases the effectiveness of regional cooperation in combating large-scale financial crimes and signals a significant blow to organized scam networks operating across Asia.