Southeast Asian cybercrime networks are increasingly expanding their operations into Africa as law-enforcement crackdowns intensify in traditional scam-centre hubs such as Myanmar and Cambodia, according to findings attributed to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The development is reportedly part of a broader geographic shift in transnational online fraud, with criminal networks seeking new operational bases in countries with growing internet infrastructure and large pools of technically skilled but unemployed young people.
Nigeria and Kenya have emerged among the African countries facing increased attention from such networks, raising concerns over the exploitation of local technical talent to support sophisticated cyber-enabled fraud operations.
The criminal networks, which have been associated with industrial-scale online scams, cryptocurrency fraud and phishing operations, often rely on trafficked or coerced workers to target victims across different countries.
According to reports citing UNODC assessments, increased enforcement pressure in parts of Southeast Asia has contributed to the relocation and diversification of scam operations into other regions.
The shift highlights the increasingly transnational nature of cybercrime, with criminal groups able to move personnel, infrastructure and operations across borders while exploiting gaps in law enforcement, digital safeguards and cybersecurity awareness.
The networks have also been linked to cryptocurrency investment scams commonly referred to as “pig-butchering”, a fraud model in which criminals establish relationships with victims over an extended period before persuading them to invest in fake or fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms.
Nigeria has already witnessed major law-enforcement operations targeting suspected foreign-linked scam centres.
In one widely reported case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 177 Chinese nationals in Lagos and Abuja between December 2024 and January 2025 over alleged involvement in cybercrime and online investment fraud.
The arrests reportedly followed raids on premises allegedly operating as corporate offices but suspected of being used as scam centres.
Investigators reportedly recovered large quantities of SIM cards, computers and other digital equipment during the operations.
The case underscored growing concerns about the establishment of organised cybercrime operations within Nigeria and the recruitment or training of local residents to participate in online fraud schemes.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that the internationalisation of scam operations presents a complex challenge for African law-enforcement agencies because the criminal infrastructure can span multiple jurisdictions.
Victims may be located in one country, the operators in another, while cryptocurrency wallets, digital platforms, communication channels and financial proceeds are distributed across several jurisdictions.
The development also presents risks to Africa’s growing digital economy, particularly as countries such as Nigeria continue to expand digital financial services, cryptocurrency-related activity, e-commerce and online employment.
The UNODC has previously warned of the ability of organised criminal groups to adapt rapidly to enforcement pressure by shifting operations to jurisdictions where they perceive weaker controls.
The trend therefore underscores the need for stronger international cooperation, intelligence sharing, digital forensics capabilities and coordinated action against cybercrime networks.
For Nigeria, experts say greater collaboration among law-enforcement agencies, telecommunications operators, financial institutions and technology companies will be critical to identifying and dismantling emerging scam centres before they become deeply established.
The development also highlights the importance of protecting young technology workers from recruitment into organised cybercrime while creating legitimate employment opportunities that can channel their digital skills into productive economic activities.
