Chinese Gangs Systematize Crypto Romance Scams in Southeast Asia
Organized crime groups have industrialized cryptocurrency-linked romance scams since 2016, operating from law-enforcement havens in Southeast Asian special economic zones. The pig-butchering schemes—named for their method of fattening victims through fake romantic relationships—now function as turnkey operations with dedicated infrastructure for laundering proceeds through untraceable crypto channels.
Infoblox's report reveals a shadow economy with specialized providers offering scam kits, fraudulent trading platforms, and money laundering services. Compounds in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar house thousands of trafficked workers lured by fake job offers, their passports confiscated upon arrival. INTERPOL confirms these human trafficking-fueled operations rival industrial-scale enterprises like the Golden Triangle Economic Zone.
