China Leads a Crackdown on an International Cybercrime Location

What Happened?

Chinese officials led a series of security raids against cyber-scam operations located along the border between Thailand and Myanmar this week. 

The raids reportedly freed thousands of workers who had themselves been scammed into coming to remote locations, and then forced to work by criminal organizations as part of an international ring of cybercrime operations. 

To mark the occasion Chinese, Thai, and Myanmar officials held a joint celebration of their efforts against transnational cybercrime. 

“Several scam sites have been eradicated and a large group of suspects arrested,” said Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry. Mr. Jiakun also said that China’s efforts were in conjunction with similar measures taken by Thai and Myanmar authorities. 

Why it Matters

Cybercrime has been a growth industry for the past decade, afflicting millions of people around the world. Beginning in the 2010s cybercrime grew from a few isolated scams and incidents into a full-fledged industry bilking billions of dollars from unsuspecting victims worldwide. 

Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that by the end of 2025, global cybercrime could cost victims as much as $10.5 trillion dollars annually. 

To achieve those kinds of results, an entire cybercrime infrastructure has evolved to support illicit activity online. Entire buildings and even clusters of buildings full of workers devoted to round the clock cybercrime have sprung up in places like the Thai-Myanmar border. They employ thousands of people, not all of whom are being forced to participate.

According to a report from the New York Times, some people who work as part of cybercrime operations will continue to do so despite the recent crackdown by China. The New York Times cited Ma Mi, who said “business is normal” and that she, like many other Myanmar nationals, work voluntarily as part of cybercrime operations. 

While the number of people detained in the recent raids led by China is unknown, it’s also unclear if any of those arrested were in leadership roles for cybercrime organizations or if they were just lower-level workers. 

If those arrested were just workers and not organizers, it’s unclear if the raids will produce the results China’s officials claim. 

The combination of human trafficking and voluntary participation make large scale cybercrime operations particularly difficult to stop. If a cybercrime organization that relied on forced labor has that source taken away, they can simply turn to willing workers. 

The proliferation of artificial intelligence programs makes many cyber scams much easier to implement, meaning cybercriminals don’t need workers with computer science skills anymore. Anyone with internet access can engage in illicit activities for profit.

How it Affects You

Cybercrime is likely to remain a major threat not just to businesses but to individuals as well. 

New technologies allowing illicit actors to duplicate voices and images make it easier for them to lure victims into scams by making victims think a loved one is behind the initial message. 

While the raids by China are a good step, a coordinated effort by the nations of the world will likely be needed to make real progress against organized cybercrime.