Southeast Asia's Scam Hub: Why Online Fraud Networks Persist Despite Crackdowns

• Cambodia extradited tycoon Chen Zhi, accused of leading a massive cross-border online fraud network exploiting trafficked laborers.
• Hundreds of thousands are trapped in forced labor in Southeast Asian compounds, compelled to run scams siphoning billions globally.
• Scam centers evolved from online casinos, adapting infrastructure to digital fraud during the pandemic, targeting victims worldwide.
• Despite crackdowns like Myanmar's KK Park, operations relocate, and new centers emerge, making dismantling the industry challenging.
• Workers are lured by false promises, passports confiscated, and face abuse; victims lose millions to various sophisticated scams.

Why It Matters: Southeast Asia remains a global online scam hub due to adaptable networks, forced labor, and influential protection.