Research indicates a growing problem of sextortion linked to scam centers, particularly those run by organized crime. Data reveals that these scam compounds, often located in Southeast Asia, exploit thousands of individuals from numerous countries, often holding them captive and forcing them to commit online scams. The study shows a possible connection between sextortion targeting adults and the risk to children using shared devices. Further research is necessary to discern whether children are being deliberately targeted in these instances, as existing data from organizations like NCMEC is limited.
There are limitations to what we can see with this data, but what we have so far is accurate. If anything I think it's undercounting the scale of the problem.
Often run by Chinese organized crime groups, scam compounds have exploded across Southeast Asia since roughly 2019. Criminals have trafficked thousands of people, from more than 70 countries, into the compounds, where they are usually held captive.
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