UN reports $88 billion in losses from Asia-Pacific scam gangs in 2025
A United Nations report documents that organised scam networks defrauded Asia-Pacific residents of at least $88 billion in 2025, with transnational crime groups increasingly using AI systems to expand operations across multiple illegal markets while exploiting corruption.
What happened
According to a UN report released on July 21, 2026, organised scam networks defrauded people across the Asia-Pacific region of at least $88 billion in 2025, with losses estimated between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion.
The UNODC said transnational organised crime groups are quickly adapting their methods, with transnational organised crime groups increasingly using artificial intelligence to expand their operations, exploiting corruption and shifting locations.
Reported impact
Criminal scam networks caused losses of at least $88 billion across the Asia-Pacific in 2025, affecting residents across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Southeast Asia is described as a major centre for cyber fraud driven largely by syndicates of mainly Chinese origin, with networks increasingly spreading across several illegal markets.
Index analysis
Networks that once operated within specific territories or particular illicit trades are now increasingly spreading across multiple illegal markets while using shared criminal services, with the structure of these groups resembling a franchise model.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.