The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that large-scale fraud parks operating in Southeast Asia have formed a transnational criminal network of “industrial-scale operations.” These “fraud factories,” controlled by organized crime groups, are not just the problem of any single country but are instead a regional threat.
After conducting field inspections in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, FBI Deputy Assistant Director of International Operations Office David Shelbourn gave an online press conference on the 24th to brief on the latest trends in telecommunication fraud in the region.
He stated that there are massive scam bases across multiple areas in Southeast Asia. These compounds are not isolated cases of crime, but “transnational enterprises” with plenty of funding and tight organization, engaging not only in online fraud, but also deeply intertwined with human trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.
He described that the sheer scale of these scamming centers has even reached “industrial-scale operations,” something one has to see in person to fully grasp.
He said: “In 2025, our Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 80,000 complaints, causing economic losses of over US$2.9 billion (approximately 11.3 billion ringgit). These numbers are shocking, affect every one of us, and truly illustrate that this is a global problem.”
He pointed out that these criminal groups are highly mobile and often quickly relocate to neighboring countries with weaker regulation when law enforcement pressure increases. Therefore, tackling scam compounds requires strengthened cooperation among law enforcement agencies from various countries, with cross-border coordination being especially crucial, as criminal groups exploit the legal and jurisdictional gaps between nations.
He said: “I don’t think this problem is rooted in any single country… As long as there are illegal profits and low barriers to committing these crimes, it will likely persist. That’s why I emphasize the importance of regional collaboration once again. Law enforcement agencies from all countries must take coordinated action. The key is to make every area a place where these compounds find it hard to survive.”
He noted that the FBI is actively promoting regional law enforcement collaboration, maintaining close cooperation with Southeast Asian partners. “Geographical boundaries cannot protect those who commit crimes against Americans, and we will continue to pursue them to the end.”
Shelbourn stated that the FBI has dispatched agents to cooperate with Thai police and set up a joint anti-fraud task force. The task force has already dismantled fraud networks, identified victims, and struck at related financial infrastructures.
He said the FBI has also previously carried out special task force collaborations with the Cambodian National Police, and hopes to apply that experience to fight scam compounds in the future.