Interpol Warns of Escalating Threat from Transnational Scam Compounds

Interpol has formally recognized criminal enterprises operating scam compounds as a transnational threat, with member countries adopting a resolution during the General Assembly in Marrakech. These networks span multiple jurisdictions, exploiting human trafficking and forced labor to perpetrate online fraud, including cryptocurrency scams.

The resolution highlights a sophisticated criminal model targeting victims across 60+ countries. Recruitment tactics involve false promises of overseas employment, with individuals later coerced into illegal activities within controlled compounds. Southeast Asia remains a hotspot, with Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos implicated in large-scale operations.

Scam centers employ advanced techniques like voice phishing and romance scams alongside crypto fraud. The U.S. Treasury Department has already sanctioned 19 entities linked to these operations, underscoring the global financial system's vulnerability to such coordinated criminal activity.