AI Tools Fueling Global Expansion of China-Linked Trafficking and Scamming Networks

A recent report highlights the alarming rise of China-linked human trafficking and scamming networks, now using AI tools to enhance their operations. Initially concentrated in Southeast Asia, these operations trafficked over 200,000 people into compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Victims were forced into cybercrime activities, such as “pig butchering” scams, impersonating law enforcement, and sextortion. Criminals have now expanded globally, incorporating generative AI for multi-language scamming, creating fake profiles, and even using deepfake technology to deceive victims. 

The growing use of these tools allows scammers to target victims more efficiently and execute more sophisticated schemes.

One of the most prominent types of scams is the “pig butchering” scheme, where scammers build intimate online relationships with their victims before tricking them into investing in fake opportunities. These scams have reportedly netted criminals around $75 billion. In addition to pig butchering, Southeast Asian criminal networks are involved in various illicit activities, including job scams, phishing attacks, and loan schemes. Their ability to evolve with AI technology, such as using ChatGPT to overcome language barriers, makes them more effective at deceiving victims. 

Generative AI also plays a role in automating phishing attacks, creating fake identities, and writing personalized scripts to target individuals in different regions. Deepfake technology, which allows real-time face-swapping during video calls, is another t

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