Thailand, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has spearheaded the formation of a major international coalition aimed at tackling the rampant spread of online fraud. The new initiative, named the Global Partnership Against Online Scams, was announced in Bangkok on Thursday following a two-day conference attended by delegates from nearly 60 countries.
A Collective Vulnerability
In his keynote address, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized that the pervasive threat of online scams exposes a "collective vulnerability that no country can address alone." The partnership, initially signed by Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates, will focus on political commitment, cross-border law enforcement, victim protection, and raising public awareness.
The scale of the problem is staggering. According to UNODC estimates, victims of online fraud lost between $18 billion and $37 billion globally in 2023 alone. Criminal enterprises, often operating scam centers across Southeast Asia, use deceptive investment schemes and fake romantic interests to extort money from people worldwide.
Private Sector Giants Join the Fight
The conference highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in this battle. Internet giants Meta and TikTok provided significant assistance. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, presented a threat report detailing how scam networks are increasingly using artificial intelligence and outlined the protocols it employs to combat fraud on its platforms.
TikTok, one of the world's most popular short-form video apps, formally signed the conference's closing statement, becoming one of the first corporate members of the new global partnership. Brian Hanley, Asia-Pacific director of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance—which TikTok joined this month—stressed that combating these criminal networks requires having "all the major stakeholders at the table."
"Scams are exploiting, not only transnational boundaries, but also the seams across various platforms from banks, telcos, to social media platforms," Hanley explained. He expressed hope that more companies would follow TikTok's lead, noting that momentum is building as businesses realize scams affect their bottom lines and consumer trust.
Regional Crisis Spurs Action
The urgent need for a coordinated response has been underscored by recent events in the region. These include scam center raids in Myanmar, challenges in repatriating victims from Thailand, and the tragic death of a South Korean student who was forced into scam work in Cambodia. While Cambodia is known as a hub for such illegal compounds and is engaged in an armed conflict with neighboring Thailand, it did not have representation at the Bangkok conference.
This new partnership builds on prior commitments, such as the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which over 70 countries signed in Vietnam in October 2023. UN Secretary-General António Guterres had hailed that document as a vow to ensure no country is left defenseless against cybercrime. With over 300 participants involved in the Bangkok talks, the Global Partnership Against Online Scams marks a significant step in turning those vows into actionable, collaborative defense.
