By : Zin Oo,Ministry of Information,Myanmar
In today’s era, with the rapid advancement and proliferation of digital systems, countries in the Mekong-Lancang region—like nations across the globe—are facing the scourge of cybercrimes, online scams, online gambling, and the spread of fake news and misinformation utilized through online technology via communication networks such as artificial intelligence and mobile communications. Particularly in the Mekong-Lancang regional countries, including Myanmar, cybercrimes and online scam gambling have evolved into transnational crimes, negatively impacting both the public in the Mekong region and diplomatic relations between nations.
Fraud is defined as intentionally deceiving another person to secure a gain for oneself or another party. According to the UNHCR’s definition, fraud can involve concealment, deceit, misrepresentation, omission of facts, and other elements. Similarly, online fraud (online scam) refers to the act of deceitfully obtaining money or data from individuals or organizations by utilizing online internet communication networks.
In this current era, as technology advances at a rapid pace, a state has been reached where individual citizens’ daily socio-economic lives, as well as the operational systems of the entire world, rely on the internet and social media networks. Although numerous benefits such as speed and convenience have been gained through technological progress, undesirable consequences and dangers have simultaneously emerged alongside them.
The prominent categories of crimes committed using the internet online are gambling, fraud, and cybercrimes. Among these offenses, the crime directly threatening the assets, finances, and security of citizens in the Mekong regional countries, including Myanmar, is online fraud. These online crimes are financial and technological offenses that utilize fake news and misinformation as a weapon to destroy the socio-economic lives of people worldwide. Particularly, the issue of online scams—mainly occurring in the Mekong regional countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam—severely threatens the regional nations like a disaster and has reached the level of a security, economic, and human rights threat.
The issue of online scams in the Mekong region is no longer merely ordinary financial fraud; it has manifested as a cross-border security threat linked to cybercrime, human trafficking, and money laundering. To effectively suppress and prevent this, there is a need to accelerate information integration, digital awareness, and law enforcement cooperation among regional countries more than ever. Cybercriminals not only fraudulently take citizens’ assets, money, and data through various dishonest means, but they are also increasingly threatening and destroying the peaceful socio-economic lives and safety of the public.
Likewise, due to technological advancements, cybercriminals are utilizing more sophisticated methods. They are employing various tactics such as data theft, malware distribution, deception through fake accounts, and creating synthetic video and audio using AI Deepfakes with stolen personal data. Today, the dissemination of misinformation through AI artificial intelligence technology has also become a danger, making it difficult to protect the personal data of digital technology users and highlighting the importance of effectively suppressing and preventing cyber harassment.
These online scams and online gambling are crimes that pose a National Security Threat; furthermore, these crimes are designated as offenses committed against the general public, and various countries are severely suffering the resulting outcomes and adverse effects. Myanmar, on its part, is giving serious priority to operations fighting against online scams and online gambling that threaten the international community and the whole world as a national duty. To ensure that online scams and online gambling endangering the entire world cannot take root at all within Myanmar, active efforts are being made in coordination with domestic forces as well as neighboring governments.
Socio-Economic Impacts Caused by Online Scams in Mekong Regional Countries
Myanmar
According to statements released by the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ministry of Information, a total of 14,760 foreign nationals who entered illegally into Myawaddy Township were detained between January 30, 2025, and August 15, 2026. Government officials completed investigations for all these foreign nationals and systematically deported 13,820 of them to their respective countries via Thailand in accordance with legal procedures.
Among the remaining 940 foreign nationals to be handed over, 724 foreign nationals were prosecuted under Section 3(1)/13(1) of the Myanmar Immigration (Provisional Provisions) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law; thus, it has been reported that the remaining 216 foreign nationals are ready to be transferred to their respective countries and are being well taken care of in detention.
In Myanmar, online scams are mainly operated by foreigners in border regions where ethnic armed groups are located. The Myanmar government is taking firm and decisive actions against online scams by forming national-level committees, establishing the Central Center for Combating Online Scams, setting up the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) mobile phone registration system, enacting cyber security and anti-money laundering laws, enhancing cooperation with private organizations, and conducting public awareness programs. Furthermore, cooperation is being carried out not only with China but also within the Mekong-Lancang framework. In addition, on May 14, 2026, the “Draft Anti-Online Scam Law” was drafted and opened for public suggestions.
As a result of these measures, over 71,000 foreign nationals involved in online scams from 58 countries were transferred back to their home countries from online scam centers in Myanmar’s border areas. Additionally, over 600 buildings and thousands of communication devices used for these operations near the Myanmar-Thailand border were destroyed. Cybercrimes are rising in Myanmar, and they are connected not only to online scams but also to human trafficking, narcotics, forced labor, and money laundering. In combating these challenges, strengthening international cooperation involving all countries and relevant organizations, including UNODC and INTERPOL, is vital, and there is a need to further step up information sharing, technical assistance, capacity building, as well as bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation.
Cambodia
According to an August 18, 2026 news report by The Phnom Penh Post, the Cambodian government closed over 600 locations/facilities connected to technology-driven scams, took action against hundreds of casinos, and sent over 4,100 suspects to court during a year-long nationwide crackdown by Cambodian authorities. This indicates that the government’s effort to dismantle cross-border scam networks is not a temporary campaign, but an ongoing priority in maintaining law and order.
According to figures released by the Secretariat of the Commission for Contending Technology Crimes (CCTC), the Cambodian government conducted investigations and raids on 751 sites suspected of operating scams between July 2025 and July 31, 2026, closing 605 of them to prevent further illegal activities. From July 2025 to July 2026, Cambodian authorities deported and repatriated 21,666 foreign nationals from 38 countries, with citizens of China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India making up the majority. Law enforcement authorities submitted 388 criminal cases involving 4,147 suspects to the courts.
Vietnam
According to data from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, losses caused by online financial fraud in Vietnam in 2025 exceeded 8 trillion Vietnamese Dong (over 304 million USD). Concurrently, a report by the National Cybersecurity Association stated that approximately 552,000 cyberattacks hit domestic information systems in 2025. Up to 52.3% of government departments, organizations, and businesses were impacted by cyberattacks during 2025.
Over the past three years, more than 30 cases related to the illegal trading and misuse of data were investigated and acted upon. These incidents led to the leak of over 160 million data records across various fields. Cybercrime threatens not only financial loss but also trust in digital systems and the national digital transformation process.
According to investigations, a January 2026 report by VnEconomy revealed that suspects recruited job seekers via social networks who then illegally crossed borders and used apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Zara, or GAP to scam elderly individuals, online sellers, and people with lower tech literacy.
Laos
Authorities in Laos initiated crackdowns on organized crime syndicates operating human trafficking networks and scam compounds, reporting the arrest of nearly 4,500 people in the first six months of this year.
Official media reported that Vientiane police arrested 122 people during a final coordinated raid on 7 houses on July 11.
The Laotian Times reported that the detained suspects included citizens of China, Malaysia, Brazil, Myanmar, Uruguay, and Pakistan, adding that this was “part of Laos’s ongoing crackdown on cybercrime and online scam networks.”
Minister of Public Security General Vanthong Kongmany reviewed the progress of implementing measures under Prime Minister’s Order No. 32 and related directives aimed at combating internet-based crimes and illegal online gambling. Authorities reported that from January to mid-June 2026, law enforcement agencies successfully broke up 20 electronic scam operations and detained 2,652 suspects, including 780 women, across 14 nationalities.
Thailand
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, during a joint press conference with the Royal Thai Police at Government House on June 22, 2026, announced a crackdown on cybercrime, telecom fraud, and cross-border nominee networks as part of a national-level initiative.
From October 2025 to June 2026, the Online Scam Operations Center and associated police units assisted 862 victims and prevented losses exceeding 82 million baht. Additionally, over 351,000 illegal mule accounts were closed, over 3.6 billion baht in illicit funds were frozen, over 29,000 suspects were arrested, and arrest warrants were issued for over 70 network leaders. Thanks to these efforts, online crime incidents were reduced by 69.2% and financial losses by 87.3%.
To strengthen data coordination and provide rapid assistance to the public, the government established a national steering committee and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among 15 key organizations, including the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the financial and telecommunications sectors.
Patterns of Cybercrime Commission
According to a report jointly published on November 9, 2023, by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Egmont Group, and INTERPOL, six patterns of Cyber-Enabled Fraud (CEF) were identified as follows:
- Business Email Compromise (BEC) Fraud
BEC fraud involves sending fake emails to victims mimicking their clients or suppliers, deceiving them into transferring funds to new payment accounts. In this type of fraud, criminal syndicates have shifted to using corporate bank accounts as first-layer accounts instead of individual bank accounts to make detection more difficult. Stolen funds are rapidly transferred internationally; for instance, cash is withdrawn through mule accounts in Ireland, and through Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML), pharmaceuticals, clothing, and electronics are purchased from European or Chinese companies and shipped to affiliate companies in Nigeria to launder the money.
- Phishing Fraud using Fake Apps and Websites
Phishing fraud deceives victims using fake websites or applications to steal their personal information, bank details, and login credentials, subsequently draining money from the victim’s accounts or opening new accounts to execute illicit transactions. Individual money mule accounts are commonly used as the first layer in this scheme. In modern phishing, criminals trick victims into installing Remote Access Tools on their computers or phones, opening crypto accounts at Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) in the victim’s name to launder money. Furthermore, stolen funds are used to purchase “Coins” on social networks and live-streaming platforms, transferred as virtual gifts to other accounts, and converted back into real currency to erase the money trail.
(3) Impersonation Fraud of Government Officials and Acquaintances (Social Media and Telecommunication Impersonation Fraud)
In this pattern, criminal groups contact victims via phone or social media apps, impersonating government officials, family members, or friends to exploit emotions and deceive victims into transferring urgent funds or granting control of bank accounts. Individual mule accounts are also typically used in the first stage to receive funds.
(4) Online Trading and Investment Platform Fraud
This fraud uses fake advertisements or online advisors to entice people into investing fiat currency or virtual assets in non-existent or deceitful online investment/trading platforms. This scheme is linked to large-scale money laundering networks and primarily uses shell company accounts as the first layer.
(5) Online Romance Fraud
In Romance Fraud, criminals take time on social media to build intimacy and trust with victims, pretending to be romantic partners to request money transfers under various pretexts. This fraud frequently merges with investment fraud, known as “Pig butchering,” where victims are groomed to deposit savings into fraudulent crypto trading platforms. Even after victims realize they have been scammed, criminals impersonating lawyers or police officers offer to help recover the funds, demanding additional fees to perpetrate secondary fraud. Monies obtained are laundered through mule accounts; some victims not only get defrauded but unwittingly hand over bank account details, becoming exploited as money mules themselves.
(6) Employment Scams
This fraud posts fake high-paying job opportunities on social media platforms to lure victims, deceiving them into making advance payments under the guise of security deposits or pre-purchasing goods to boost platform sales. This scheme has grown directly linked to human trafficking; cybercriminal gangs lure victims with lucrative jobs, traffic them across borders, detain them, and force them to work in online call centers, industrially targeting citizens of other countries with employment scams. Furthermore, criminals exploit digital technology to buy digital IDs, opening numerous bank accounts without the victims’ knowledge to rapidly split, transfer, and launder funds obtained from employment fraud.
When analyzing losses due to cybercrimes in the Mekong regional countries, a recent UNODC release reported financial losses caused by online scam syndicates exceeding 116 million USD in the year 2025 alone. Furthermore, these scam syndicates utilize fake online information for fraud as well as modern forms of human trafficking.
Victims lured into regional scam operations are promised high salaries, persuaded to cross borders, and forced into online gambling gangs and various forms of online fraud. Some victims endure torture and must pay substantial ransoms to gain freedom. Individuals from at least 80 countries and territories have been found in Mekong scam compounds, with recruitment networks documented operating through transit hubs in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Online Scam and Fake News/Disinformation are fundamentally linked, with online scams utilizing fake news/disinformation as a weapon. Online scams are crimes that use deceptive technology and fake information to misinform, panic, or defraud the public for financial gain or personal data theft.
As described above, these consequences cause socio-economic losses for the people in Mekong regional countries. The proliferation of cyber-enabled fraud and AI-generated fake news and misinformation inflicts severe and dangerous impacts beyond simple financial loss, affecting social, psychological, economic, and political stability.
Ninety-eight percent of Deepfakes, an AI-driven disinformation technology, consist of non-consensual sexual imagery, with 99 percent targeting women. Criminals obtain photos of ordinary women from social media and use AI to generate sexual images for widespread AI-driven sextortion.
Additionally, online scam centers lure international youth with fake high-paying job posts on social media, traffic them across borders, and force them to work up to 14 hours a day in scam compounds. Synthetic identities created using AI pose severe risks of completely disrupting banks’ Know Your Customer (KYC) systems, worsening money laundering and fraud. Furthermore, SMEs and major financial firms suffer business disruptions and data leaks from ransomware attacks.
The spread of fake videos using AI severely damages public trust in official government-citizen communications. Criminal syndicates freely use illegal AI chatbots to overcome language barriers, automatically generating and mass-sending accurate fake messages in local languages, posing major threats to national security and law enforcement systems.
Therefore, reaffirming the statement made by Cambodian Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra during the Zero Fake News Campaign (Phase – 2) event in June 2026: “Information integrity is the foundation of public trust; public trust is the foundation of peace and social order; and peace and social order are the foundation of sustainable development for our country, our region, and the world,” and as part of broader national efforts to promote information integrity, media literacy, responsible journalism, public trust, and digital resilience, establishing the Mekong-Lancang Information Integrity Network is recommended to continue driving the “Say No to Fake News” campaign.
Due to the advancement of AI and Deepfake technologies in the region, establishing the Mekong-Lancang Information Integrity Network is urgently needed. Currently, scam compounds in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos utilize real-time deepfake video overlays like “AIFace,” voice cloning, and AI fake profiles to impersonate government officials, law enforcement agencies, and prominent business figures for widespread online scams and sextortion. Criminals also leverage Generative AI to create fake video clips of national leaders advertising fraudulent investments, eroding public trust in official government communications and information systems. Therefore, rapidly establishing this network as a regional framework is essential to systematically counter digital deception, fake news, and misinformation.
The primary function of this network is to serve as a secure real-time information exchange and technical response platform (Regional Hub) among regional countries. Through the network, law enforcement agencies, financial regulators, tech companies, and social media platforms must collaborate to rapidly share suspicious information and early-warning data. Additionally, by sharing and integrating deepfake detection tools, digital watermarking, and forensic metadata analysis, illegally generated fake news and videos can be blocked and removed in a timely manner.
Furthermore, this network should aim to enhance regional legal coordination, capacity building, and public technological resilience. Laws must be harmonized and cross-border cooperation standards established among Mekong countries to effectively prosecute AI-enabled threats, forged documents, and fake identity creations. Investigators and front-line officers should be empowered with advanced digital forensic tools. Simultaneously, to reduce victimhood among the regional public, continuous regional digital and AI literacy campaigns should be launched to educate communities on scam patterns and tell-tale signs utilized by criminal gangs, thereby building community resilience.
To strengthen information verification capabilities and technical influence when establishing the Mekong-Lancang Information Integrity Network, primary participants must include independent fact-checking organizations, independent news media, and Media and Information Literacy (MIL) civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Mekong-Lancang region (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China). These organizations serve as key pillars capable of directly verifying and exposing circulating fake news, misinformation, and scam patterns on the ground.
To enhance technical verification capabilities across local languages and quickly take down misinformation, the participation of major social media and tech companies (Big Tech Platforms) such as Meta (Facebook), TikTok, Telegram, Google, and Baidu is vital. Additionally, technocrats from regional IT research centers and universities must join to develop AI and Machine Learning-based verification tools.
For long-term network sustainability, policy support, and international coordination, UN agencies (e.g., UNESCO, UNODC), ASEAN information bodies (COCI), non-governmental organizations supported by Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (LMC) initiatives, and international donor organizations must participate. These entities can drive financial and technical cooperation to prevent cross-border crime and misinformation while maintaining the network’s editorial independence.
In order to effectively respond to the growing threat of fake news and misinformation (Disinformation & Misinformation) spreading online—which poses a major challenge to social stability and public trust in the Mekong regional countries—and to rebuild public confidence, the following strategic measures are recommended to be implemented jointly:
- Strengthening Fact-Checking Infrastructure – Encourage the growth of independent fact-checking organizations free from government influence and ensure their verifications are easily accessible to the general public. Establish a Regional Fact-Checking Network within the Mekong region to collaboratively verify cross-border misinformation in real time.
- Enhancing Media and Digital Literacy – Foster stronger public awareness and digital resilience, particularly among youth, students, rural communities, and vulnerable groups. To improve their ability to verify news before believing or sharing it, systematically integrate Digital Literacy and methods for analyzing fake news/disinformation into school curricula. Furthermore, promote public awareness to cultivate a “Think Before You Share” habit among social media users to double-check unverified info prior to sharing.
- Partnering with Tech Companies (Platform Accountability) – Foster collaboration between Mekong regional governments/civil society organizations and major social media platform companies—such as Meta (Facebook), TikTok, Telegram, and YouTube—to scale up the use of AI technologies and algorithms to block and mitigate the spread of misinformation in local languages.
- Building Transparency and Credible Communication – Prevent fake news from taking root by ensuring that governments and official bodies release information transparently and without delay. Effectively combat misinformation by supporting the operation and sustainability of standard-compliant, independent media outlets.
- Implementing Balanced Legal Frameworks – When enacting legislation against fake news, ensure laws target only those who intentionally spread misinformation with malicious intent. Draft and enforce these measures carefully to avoid impinging on the public’s right to freedom of expression or the essential role of independent media.
In summary, public trust in information across the Mekong region can only be restored through a balanced combination of technological, legal, and educational approaches. Furthermore, combating misinformation cannot be achieved by a single nation or entity acting in isolation; it demands a whole-of-society and regional approach. Governments, media organizations, journalists, educators, civil society organizations, youth, digital influencers, tech platforms, and the general public must unite to advance truth, trust, accountability, and resilience within the information ecosystem.
Reference;
(1) PRESS RELEASE on outcomes of the regional forum
(2) TOCTA_South-East_Asia_2026
(3) UNODC_Report_Emerging_threats_-_The_intersection_of_criminal_and_ technological _innovation_in_the_use_of_automation_and_AI
(4) Illicit-financial-flows-cyber-enabled-fraud.pdf.coredownload.inline
(6) https://www.ucanews.com/news/laos-says-a-crackdown-on-scam-compounds-is-underway/114285
(7) https://e.vnexpress.net/news/crime/malicious-phone-call-costs-hcmc-woman-72-000-4728615.html
(8) https://www.aseanwonk.com/p/china-lancang-mekong-cooperation-scams-2025
(9) https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/essc-25/126022420
(11) https://www.gnlm.com.mm/illegal-immigrants-handed-over-to-relevant-authorities/