As cybercrime syndicates spread across Southeast Asia and increasingly target Indian citizens, Laos has vowed a tougher crackdown on transnational scam centres that have evolved into one of the world’s most lucrative criminal enterprises.

In an exclusive interaction with The Pioneer during his official visit to India, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavan Phomvihane said dismantling cyber-scam operations and human trafficking networks has become one of his government’s highest priorities, amid growing international concern over the rapid expansion of organised crime groups across the region.

“Scam centres are a challenge for Laos and other countries. It is a priority to tackle them. Our government is actively battling them,” Phomvihane said, stressing that Laos is working closely with neighbouring countries to disrupt criminal syndicates operating across borders.

His remarks come at a time when India is grappling with a rising number of citizens being lured into cyber-fraud operations based in parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. Many victims are recruited through fake job advertisements and fraudulent employment agencies promising lucrative overseas careers. Instead, they find themselves trapped in heavily guarded scam compounds and forced to participate in online fraud schemes targeting victims worldwide.

According to information provided by the Government of India in Parliament, cybercrime networks have increasingly exploited social media platforms and recruitment channels to lure Indians abroad. Once transported to scam hubs, many are allegedly coerced into conducting online investment frauds,........

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