A new United Nations report has raised fresh concerns about the global spread of organized cybercrime, warning that Asian-led scam operations are now penetrating Africa, with Nigeria identified as a major target.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), transnational criminal syndicates, initially rooted in East and Southeast Asia, are increasingly shifting their lucrative scam networks beyond the region in response to intensified crackdowns by local authorities. The report, titled “Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centers, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia,” highlights how these groups are establishing new bases in Africa, Latin America, and other parts of the world.
For years, scam compounds thrived in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines, generating billions of dollars through romance scams, fraudulent investment schemes, illegal online gambling, and other cyber-enabled crimes. However, tougher policing has forced these syndicates to seek out countries with weaker regulatory frameworks and enforcement capabilities.
Nigeria, already grappling with its own domestic cybercrime challenges, has become a key destination for these foreign scam networks. Between late 2024 and early 2025, Nigerian law enforcement agencies conducted multiple raids leading to the arrest of suspects linked to East and Southeast Asian groups involved in cryptocurrency scams and online romance fraud. This growing infiltration poses serious threats to Nigeria’s digital economy, investor confidence, and broader financial system.
The UNODC estimates that industrial-scale scam centers worldwide now rake in nearly $40 billion annually. Analysts warn that without urgent and coordinated international action, countries like Nigeria could become entrenched hubs for illicit cyber activities.
“This reflects a natural expansion as the industry seeks new ways and places to do business, but also a hedging strategy against future disruptions in Southeast Asia,” said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC’s acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Other African countries such as Zambia and Angola have also reported significant busts of Asian-linked cybercrime rings, underscoring the continent’s rising vulnerability. Meanwhile, in Latin America, Brazil and Peru have faced similar challenges, with cyber-enabled fraud and human trafficking incidents tied to Asian crime syndicates.
The report warns that technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and sophisticated money laundering networks are further accelerating the professionalization of cybercrime. Criminal organizations are increasingly operating through underground online marketplaces, offering crime-as-a-service platforms that make it easier to conduct illicit business globally.
UNODC officials stress that governments must urgently adapt to this evolving threat landscape. For Nigeria, this calls for stronger regional cooperation, investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, and enhanced public-private sector collaboration to safeguard its digital economy.
As organized cybercrime becomes more globalized and sophisticated, the costs to governance, economic growth, and national security could be profound if the trend remains unchecked.
