The UN has recorded record losses from scam networks: $114 billion in 2025.
The scale of organized fraud in the crypto industry continues to shock. According to a fresh analysis, losses from scam operations in East and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, for 2025 are estimated to range from $88.3 to $114.1 billion. These are not just numbers — they are direct evidence that the criminal infrastructure has turned into a powerful cross-border network.
The assessment methodology takes into account both officially recorded losses and the estimated share of victims who do not report to authorities. For comparison, in 2023, similar losses amounted to only $18–37 billion. An almost threefold increase in two years is an alarming signal for the entire ecosystem. Among countries with the highest recorded losses in 2024–2025, China ($5.1 billion), South Korea ($3.5 billion), and Taiwan ($2.8 billion) lead.
Criminal Economy as Corporate Franchising
Experts note that disparate syndicates have merged into a single network with a shared infrastructure for fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and illegal migrant smuggling. This model resembles corporate franchising: specialized departments for laundering, data collection, and human trafficking are connected to one interconnected service network. The scale and complexity of this criminal economy already outpace existing countermeasures.
A significant portion of operations is concentrated in scam centers — isolated compounds where people are detained and forced to work in investment and romance scams. This is not just fraud but a form of digital slavery.
Cryptocurrencies as Settlement Infrastructure
Digital assets play a key role in this system. Criminal groups systematically use cryptocurrencies, encrypted communications, AI, and satellite connectivity. Particular attention is paid to the USDT stablecoin on the TRON network. This combination has created a parallel financial system for near-instant, cheap, and pseudonymous cross-border transfers. Through P2P platforms and underground banking networks, criminals convert fiat into stablecoins and back, bypassing bank controls.
It is clear that law enforcement urgently needs to master methods for tracking and confiscating crypto assets. Simply disrupting operations is ineffective if the income of criminal networks remains out of reach.
AI and Satellite Communications: New Weapons for Scammers
Generative AI and deepfakes lower the technical barrier for complex attacks. Small groups can now use AI translation, voice cloning, and real-time deepfake video. Additionally, a 42% year-over-year increase in the use of legitimate advertising networks to distribute malware has been recorded. Satellite internet, including Starlink, allows criminals to operate in remote areas without relying on local providers.
The geography of recruitment is also expanding: people from 80 countries have been identified in scam compounds, and advertisements require knowledge of German, Polish, Spanish, and other European languages. This indicates the globalization of the threat.
My analysis: The industry is facing a new reality where cryptocurrencies have become not just a tool but the foundation of the criminal economy. Combating this requires not only technical skills but also international coordination at a level we have yet to see. If the approach is not changed, the damage figures for 2026 could set another record.