April 24, 2025, 10:43 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Internationally, so-called scam call centers are increasingly spreading. This is according to a new UN report.
Frauds can reach consumers in various ways and are always a major annoyance—especially when they succeed. In addition to various online schemes, there are still direct calls. These are often run by professionally organized gangs in scam call centers that can also operate internationally. According to a new UN report, they pose a growing problem.
Scam Call Centers Are Spreading Worldwide
The new United Nations report reveals that scam call centers are expanding further. These are criminal operations involved in various types of fraud. This can occur via phone or online. A large portion of these centers had previously been confined to Southeast Asia.
However, even after several raids in countries like Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, authorities cannot stop their spread. Once a scam call center is shut down, a new one opens elsewhere. Entire business parks are even emerging, dedicated solely to criminal activities.
Scam Call Centers Are a Billion-Dollar Business
There are now reportedly hundreds of such scam call centers, forming their own small industry. Their estimated revenue is astonishing: Experts believe the fraudsters generate up to $40 billion in profit annually.
The phenomenon is spreading “like cancer,” as Benedikt Hofmann from the UN is quoted in a press release. Authorities address the problem only in specific areas, but cannot eradicate the roots. These simply move elsewhere. The result is a connected ecosystem driven by resourceful syndicates that exploit vulnerabilities, corrupt legislative processes, government, and other institutions, thereby threatening the sovereignty of the respective state.
Also interesting: Don’t answer! Calls from these numbers are currently causing trouble
From Asia to Europe
The UN states that specifically Asian-led scam call centers have now been discovered in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and some Pacific islands. Additionally, there are related cases of money laundering, human trafficking, and services for recruiting new employees throughout the Americas and Europe.
Countries in Europe that stand out in the report include Georgia, Russia, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Ukraine. In Georgia, for example, operators of fraudulent call centers pose as recruiters to hire customer service staff. Particularly targeted are Chinese individuals or those with Chinese language skills, as the country is a particularly lucrative target.
Scammers on WhatsApp Promise Winnings–and Steal Your Money
Why Silent Callers Can Be Especially Dangerous
Could Germany Also Be Affected?
Regarding money laundering that can be directly or indirectly linked to scam call centers, the UN notes increasing partnerships between Asian actors and other criminal organizations worldwide.
Also interesting: Scammers are waiting for you to say this word on the phone
In this context, perpetrators also handle funds generated in countries such as Albania, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and, among others, Germany. These are from groups responsible for the illegal distribution of narcotics, counterfeit goods, as well as prostitution and tax and customs fraud.
Whether people in Germany will be more frequently affected by fraudulent calls due to the ongoing spread of scam call centers is not clear from the report. However, if the trend continues, it is certainly conceivable. Already, there are regular spam calls here that harass individuals.
Call Centers as a Source of Funding
The scam call centers serve as a source of income to finance other ventures. Criminal organizations might buy properties to build hotels or casinos that create the appearance of legality. In reality, they continue to engage in illegal gambling, drug and human trafficking, and money laundering.
To curb this, the UN recommends tracing the flow of money rather than just closing individual call centers. This could expose the network itself and confiscate the loot. Additionally, stricter regulations are needed.