Tonga has been identified as one of several Pacific island nations caught in the expanding web of Asian cyber scam networks, according to a warning issued by the United Nations (UN).
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that sophisticated crime syndicates, running multi-billion-dollar online scam operations, are rapidly spreading their reach into new regions, including South America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific.
In the Pacific, countries such as Fiji, Palau, Tonga, and Vanuatu have been flagged as emerging hubs for these illicit activities.
The networks have also gained a strong foothold in African nations, including Zambia, Angola, and Namibia.
The UNODC reported on Monday that Chinese and Southeast Asian criminal groups are generating tens of billions of dollars annually through fraudulent schemes, including fake investments, cryptocurrency scams, and romance frauds.
These operations often rely on trafficked workers, who are forced to live and work in dire conditions while carrying out scams on unsuspecting victims worldwide.
Historically, these cyber scam centres have been concentrated in Myanmar’s lawless border regions and questionable “special economic zones” in Cambodia and Laos.
However, as international crackdowns intensify, criminal networks are shifting operations to less-monitored territories, including small island nations like Tonga.
Authorities are urging Pacific governments to strengthen cybersecurity measures and cross-border cooperation to combat the growing threat. With cybercrime evolving rapidly, experts warn that without swift action, vulnerable nations could become key staging grounds for these transnational criminal enterprises.
A France24 report says that the cybercrime syndicates are expanding their money-laundering operations by partnering with global organised crime groups—including South American drug cartels, the Italian mafia, and Irish mob—according to a UN report.
Cryptocurrency mining, due to its anonymity, has become a key tool for hiding illicit profits.
A 2023 raid in Libya exposed a large crypto mining operation linked to Chinese nationals, highlighting the networks’ adaptability. While crackdowns in Southeast Asia, such as Myanmar’s recent operation freeing 7,000 trafficked workers, have disrupted some scam centres, the UN warns that these gangs quickly relocate.
“The problem spreads like cancer—shut down in one place, it resurfaces elsewhere,” said a UN official.
The syndicates operate vast online ecosystems with encrypted messaging, payment apps, and cryptocurrencies to evade law enforcement. With hundreds of thousands forced into scam labour, the UN urges stronger global action to dismantle these networks.
