Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated – this is what the fightback looks like

In 2024, Kirsty, a 40-something woman from North Yorkshire, encountered a man on a dating platform. He introduced himself as an English businessman based in Turkey, shared a photo of his sculpted abs on a beach, and claimed to be financially stable. To further convince her, he presented a banking site showing $600,000 in savings. After two weeks of conversation, he told Kirsty he had been robbed, with his phone and laptop stolen. He then asked her to send money for a new phone and to cover expenses. This marked the beginning of a larger scheme.

Kirsty sent £80,000 to a block of flats in northern Cyprus, where the man claimed to be working. Over two months, she transferred the funds, believing the man she had grown close to was in need. The money, partly borrowed from family, was ultimately redirected to accounts in Lagos, Nigeria, and other European countries. The man was not British but Nigerian, using voice technology to mimic his identity. Even the banking site he showed her was a convincing fake, registered in Baltimore, USA.

A global surge in fraud

Experts note a significant increase in scams since the early 2020s, driven by pandemic restrictions. Global fraud losses have surpassed half a trillion dollars annually, as reported by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. In the first quarter of 2025, romance scams like Kirsty’s rose by 20% compared to 2024, with the UK alone losing £106 million to similar schemes. These figures highlight the scale of the problem.

Authorities and companies are now emphasizing international collaboration to tackle scam networks. For the first time, a joint agreement has been signed among nations to combat this growing threat. However, scammers continue to refine their tactics, often operating in regions where law enforcement is weak. Ilias Chatzis, acting head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, points out that global layoffs have created a new pool of workers, easily recruited by criminal groups.

Scam hubs in lawless regions

Myanmar has emerged as a key location for scam operations. These centers trace back to the 1990s, when illegal casinos were common. During the pandemic, these sites were repurposed as bases for fraudulent activities. The 2021 military coup intensified the situation, as civil unrest allowed criminals to exploit the country’s chaos.

Scams often involve deceptive messages via text, phone, or email, aiming to manipulate victims into sending money or sharing data. While scams vary in form, their core function remains the same: tricking individuals into transferring funds. In the UK, fraud is the most frequent crime, accounting for over 40% of individual-targeted offenses. The government reports that 70% of scams originate abroad, typically through organized criminal groups.

“Some of these scams operate in nearly lawless zones or areas controlled by armed gangs… where governments have limited influence,” Chatzis said.

As lockdowns forced more people online, interactions shifted from face-to-face to digital platforms. This change made it easier for scammers to reach targets, while also enabling more realistic impersonations through videos, voices, and fake websites. Social media, including WhatsApp, has become a primary tool for these activities. The challenge now lies in whether countries can coordinate effectively to outmaneuver these increasingly advanced fraud networks.