Despite recent crackdowns and international collaboration, call center scams reemerge in parts of Asia. They are more organized, deceptive, and profitable than ever. From high-tech scam compounds in Thailand to fake call centers in India, fraud networks continue to exploit thousands, leaving behind financial devastation and emotional trauma.
Thailand’s scam comeback: a crisis reignited
Thailand’s telecom regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), reported a sharp drop in call center scams following aggressive operations along the Thai-Myanmar border earlier this year.
Authorities cut power, fuel, and internet access to scam hubs such as Shwe Kokko in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region, freeing over 7,000 trafficked workers and dismantling key parts of the criminal network.
But by mid-2025, the scams were back—stronger and wiser. Criminal syndicates, often backed by Chinese investors and protected by armed militias, such as the Karen Border Guard Force and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), quickly adapted.
Disguised as hotel and casino complexes, scam hubs in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos resumed operations, launching new waves of online “pig butchering” frauds. These scams lure global victims into fake cryptocurrency investments via romantic or friendly social media connections.
Many of these operations rely on trafficked labor. Victims are promised tech jobs, smuggled through border towns such as Mae Sot, and forced into scam work under brutal conditions. With their passports seized, workers face beatings or starvation if they fail to meet scam quotas.
Despite arrests and government promises, including a joint Thai-Chinese cybercrime task force and stricter banking and visa regulations, estimates suggest up to 300,000 scammers now operate across the region.
Corruption remains a key barrier. In Myanmar and Cambodia, local elites, militias, and even officials are reportedly profiting from the scam industry, undermining international law enforcement efforts.
India’s fake job call centers: a new urban front
In India, Lucknow police uncovered a different kind of scam. In May 2025, nine individuals were arrested for running fraudulent call centers that preyed on unemployed youth across several states.
The scammers posed as recruiters from prestigious firms, conducted fake interviews, and demanded money for processing or training fees. Victims received fake offer letters before all communication was severed. Over 100 victims have been identified so far.
These call centers were sophisticated. Employees followed pre-written scripts and used detailed candidate lists purchased online. Recruited on low salaries, staff were trained to sound professional while extracting fees. During coordinated raids, police seized laptops, forged documents, and mobile devices.
Authorities say weak data protection laws and widespread digital job hunting make India especially vulnerable to such scams.
Why the scams persist
Call center fraud remains difficult to eradicate due to high demand, weak enforcement, and rampant corruption. The U.S. Institute of Peace estimates global losses from these scams exceed $63 billion annually, nearly 40% of which originate from Southeast Asia. In Thailand alone, cybercrime cost victims $2 billion from 2022 to 2024.
Experts say the cycle will continue without structural reforms, such as stronger border controls, digital transparency, and accountability for complicit officials, as long as financial incentives outweigh the risks. These call center scams will keep evolving, spreading, and destroying lives across Asia.
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Tangen Jr., O. (2025, May 15). Why are scammers still thriving in Southeast Asia? Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/why-are-scammers-still-thriving-in-southeast-asia/a-72555085
Briones, J. A. (2025, June 21). Southeast Asia scam call centers rebound despite major crackdowns. Outsource Accelerator. Retrieved from https://news.outsourceaccelerator.com/southeast-asia-scam-call-centers/
