First Southeast Asia, now Madagascar: Scam centres are spreading globally
News Source
•Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:17:40 +0000
📰 What Happened
Police in Madagascar have shut down 13 scam centres run by Chinese groups. The raids happened in August and September. Officials say 148 people have been sent back to China. About US$52 million in crypto was seized in a single day, along with more than 3,200 phones and computers.
The centres ran romance, crypto and investment scams. They are linked to a crime group that once worked in Cambodia. Workers were lured from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe with promises of good pay. Some may have been trafficking victims.
🔍 The Backstory
Scam centres have grown fast across Southeast Asia since about 2020. They often sit in special zones near borders, where rules are weak. Workers are sometimes tricked into taking the jobs and then held there.
Crackdowns in Cambodia and Myanmar pushed the gangs to move. The United Nations warned last year that they were heading for southern Africa. Madagascar is a poor island nation with few checks on foreign businesses.
A separate case in August saw 11 Chinese nationals walk free from a Madagascar jail. Reports linked their release to the head of the prison service.
🎯 Why It Matters
These scams target ordinary people through texts, dating apps and fake investments. Knowing the pattern helps you spot it.
Police in Madagascar have shut down 13 scam centres run by Chinese groups. The raids happened in August and September. Officials say 148 people have been sent back to China. About US$52 million in crypto was seized in a single day, along with more than 3,200 phones and computers.
The centres ran romance, crypto and investment scams. They are linked to a crime group that once worked in Cambodia. Workers were lured from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe with promises of good pay. Some may have been trafficking victims.
Scam centres have grown fast across Southeast Asia since about 2020. They often sit in special zones near borders, where rules are weak. Workers are sometimes tricked into taking the jobs and then held there.
Crackdowns in Cambodia and Myanmar pushed the gangs to move. The United Nations warned last year that they were heading for southern Africa. Madagascar is a poor island nation with few checks on foreign businesses.
A separate case in August saw 11 Chinese nationals walk free from a Madagascar jail. Reports linked their release to the head of the prison service.
These scams target ordinary people through texts, dating apps and fake investments. Knowing the pattern helps you spot it.