Trafficking for forced criminality into cyber-scam centres poses a regional and global challenge, as transnational crime groups leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency, and evolve their modus operandi to recruit victims.

These transnational crime groups not only exploit vulnerable individuals but also undermine regional and global security by fueling transnational crime, destabilising financial systems, and eroding trust in digital and economic infrastructure. Their activities pose significant challenges to law enforcement and policymakers, necessitating a robust, coordinated response to mitigate these threats.

In opening remarks, H.E. Tri Tharyat, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, highlighted the importance of tangible actions and concrete outcomes, especially around joint cross-border efforts to investigate cases related to cyber-scam centers. He noted the importance of developing guidelines on the effective application of legislative frameworks and domestic policies for prosecutions, and practical training to build capacity around digital investigation techniques and evidence collection.

Technologies such as generative AI and social media have amplified the targeting and complexity of these scam techniques, multiplying the quality and quantity of scams to enable more widespread fraudulent activities. As transnational crime groups continue to exploit digital platforms to recruit victims into cyber-scam operations and carry out illicit activities, the role of technology in both facilitating and combating these operations remains at the forefront of discussions among governments and law enforcement officials.

Participants from the private sector and social media companies engaged in exchanges with law enforcement representatives, reflecting on the challenges of content moderation, evidence-sharing, and proactive monitoring. A recurring focus was the role of governance and technology in combatting scams, with stakeholders agreeing that better collaboration and regulatory frameworks are critical for success.

Delegates heard insights from TikTok on proactive content moderation and data sharing as well as methods for evidence collection and avenues for collaboration with law enforcement to enhance investigations. SEEK, the parent company of JobStreet, presented on efforts to prevent exploitative recruitment on its platforms through employer verification and job ad quality checks, which flag and remove potentially fraudulent ads.

A presentation from Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and Gogolook—a company that provides global digital fraud prevention and risk management services—emphasised the need for proper governance as AI-enabled digital services continue to grow. GASA’s 2024 Global State of Scams Report highlighted now scams are becoming increasingly difficult to recognize, with consumers losing US$1.03 trillion to scams in 2024.

Delegates heard from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) who provided an overview of the criminal ecosystem that enables cyber scams in Southeast Asia, as well as the role of corruption in facilitating the operations of scam centres.

With an estimated 70 percent of the population in Southeast Asia being unbanked or underbanked, informal means of transferring money remain widely used by both victims and criminals in the region. These flows, including payments in cash, mobile money, or transfers made via apps often cannot be monitored with current state-led tools and legislation and makes it difficult for authorities to trace financial flows that could help identify instances of trafficking.

A major focus of discussions was on financial flows linked to trafficking. Participants examined the use of cash, mobile money, and cryptocurrency in these operations and highlighted the challenges of tracing such transactions. Group discussions around financial crime revealed the importance of earlier collaboration between financial intelligence units and law enforcement to track assets and secure convictions. The International Justice Mission highlighted good practices in collaboration between key government agencies and Indonesia’s Financial Intelligence Unit to address money laundering.

Participants highlighted the need to continue evaluating and improving information-sharing mechanisms, building capacity to identify financial evidence, and sharing promising practices between countries in the region to strengthen cross-border prosecutions and protection for potential victims.

Participants discussed how inconsistencies in applying victim identification measures across jurisdictions often hinder prosecution and victim protection efforts. Case studies from the Philippines and Indonesia provided practical insights into cross-border collaboration, asset seizures, and successful prosecutions, emphasising the value of clear protocols and streamlined processes.

Addressing delegates, Caka Alverdi Awal, Director for International Security and Disarmament at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, underlined the importance of improved international cooperation and the urgent need to move beyond dialogue and into more practical, sustained, and coordinated action to investigate and prosecute traffickers and transnational crime.

Reflecting on the scale of the challenge and the dynamic nature of transnational crime groups, David Scott, RSO Co-Manager spoke too to the importance of regional cooperation and coordination. He urged delegates: “As the nature of organised crime networks continues to evolve, our strategies must also evolve. By improving victim identification, fostering cross-border cooperation, leveraging technology, and ensuring judicial fairness, regional actors can be confident that they have the tools to counter criminal networks and protect those most vulnerable.”