MARCH 24, 2025, 11:45
TOP-10 Countries Where Scams Are Most Common. And Why...
Fraud is a global business. However, there are countries where scams are more prevalent, the schemes are larger in scale, and the number of victims is higher. In some places, this is due to the level of regulation, in others, it’s connected to poverty and unemployment, and in some, it involves entire criminal organizations operating undercover.
Let’s take a look at the countries where scams thrive, why this happens, and how they affect the global landscape of crypto fraud, investments, and financial services.
Let’s take a look at the countries where scams thrive, why this happens, and how they affect the global landscape of crypto fraud, investments, and financial services.
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10th place — Philippines
At first glance, it’s a country of tourism and nature. In reality, it’s one of the largest hubs for call centers, including fake ones. In cities like Manila and Cebu, you can find dozens of underground offices disguised as tech support, investment companies, or "fund recovery" services.
Reason? Cheap labor, English proficiency, and weak regulation.
9️⃣ 9th place — Romania
Romania is a well-known center for "romantic scams" and marketplace fraud. Entire criminal groups operate here under the cover of IT companies. As an EU member, it gives fraudsters broad access to European banks and platforms.
8️⃣ 8th place — Pakistan
Crypto pyramids and fake exchanges are becoming more common here. Pakistan is also becoming a base for fraudsters operating on foreign markets via WhatsApp, Telegram, and email newsletters. Victims often believe they are talking to British or German brokers, but in reality, it's a basement in Karachi.
7️⃣ 7th place — Bulgaria
Bulgaria has long been known for projects like OneCoin, one of the largest crypto pyramids in history. Many fake brokers are registered in Cyprus or the Marshall Islands, but their operational offices are based in Sofia. Bulgaria is one of the shadow centers of European crypto fraud.
6️⃣ 6th place — India
Hundreds of thousands of fake calls, emails, and websites are generated every day. India is a giant factory for tech support, investment "consultants," and refund schemes operating under the guise of Microsoft, Binance, banks, etc. Some centers have been operating semi-legally for years.
5️⃣ 5th place — Cambodia
Unexpectedly, Cambodia has become a center for modern slave scams in the last three years. People are tricked into being brought to camps where they are forced under threat of violence to scam people worldwide via Telegram and social networks. Scams from Cambodia often involve crypto frauds and "romantic scams."
4️⃣ 4th place — Ukraine
Before the war, Ukraine was an active scam hub, especially for call centers and fake brokers. After 2022, some schemes moved to other countries, but Ukrainian IT professionals still actively participate in developing platforms, websites, chats, and tech support for fake projects. Many operations go through Europe, but the roots are here.
ü•â 3rd place ‚Äî China
Chinese scammers often hide behind complex schemes, including fake investment apps, AI and NFT pyramids, and international Telegram groups. While strict control exists inside the country, they conduct large-scale operations abroad, especially through Southeast Asia.
ü•à 2nd place ‚Äî Nigeria
The classic case. Scams from Nigeria began with email newsletters about "prince's inheritance," but have since evolved. Today, they include entire schools of fraud: from crypto scams and DeFi schemes to hacks and fake investment projects. Nigerian scammers are especially active on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
ü•á 1st place ‚Äî Thailand
The undisputed leader in recent years. Why?
Here are thousands of call centers and bot farms operating undercover.
Slave labor is used (like in Cambodia) for scams via messengers.
Operations are often disguised as romantic scams, crypto exchanges, brokers, and DeFi.
The government is slow to respond, and the turnover of fraudulent money is in the billions of dollars.
In essence, Southeast Asia, and especially Thailand, is the epicenter of the modern global crypto scam infrastructure.
ü߆ Why it‚Äôs important to know?
Understanding the geography of scams helps to:
üìå Important takeaway
Scams have no borders, but they do have logistics. If you’re contacted by a "financial organization," and the number or behavior seems suspicious, it’s worth checking where they are based. Often, behind big names and logos, there are offices in countries where fraud is a profitable business.
The #StopFake project tracks real schemes, international routes of fraudsters, and helps you quickly recognize fraud before you transfer anything.
At first glance, it’s a country of tourism and nature. In reality, it’s one of the largest hubs for call centers, including fake ones. In cities like Manila and Cebu, you can find dozens of underground offices disguised as tech support, investment companies, or "fund recovery" services.
Reason? Cheap labor, English proficiency, and weak regulation.
9️⃣ 9th place — Romania
Romania is a well-known center for "romantic scams" and marketplace fraud. Entire criminal groups operate here under the cover of IT companies. As an EU member, it gives fraudsters broad access to European banks and platforms.
8️⃣ 8th place — Pakistan
Crypto pyramids and fake exchanges are becoming more common here. Pakistan is also becoming a base for fraudsters operating on foreign markets via WhatsApp, Telegram, and email newsletters. Victims often believe they are talking to British or German brokers, but in reality, it's a basement in Karachi.
7️⃣ 7th place — Bulgaria
Bulgaria has long been known for projects like OneCoin, one of the largest crypto pyramids in history. Many fake brokers are registered in Cyprus or the Marshall Islands, but their operational offices are based in Sofia. Bulgaria is one of the shadow centers of European crypto fraud.
6️⃣ 6th place — India
Hundreds of thousands of fake calls, emails, and websites are generated every day. India is a giant factory for tech support, investment "consultants," and refund schemes operating under the guise of Microsoft, Binance, banks, etc. Some centers have been operating semi-legally for years.
5️⃣ 5th place — Cambodia
Unexpectedly, Cambodia has become a center for modern slave scams in the last three years. People are tricked into being brought to camps where they are forced under threat of violence to scam people worldwide via Telegram and social networks. Scams from Cambodia often involve crypto frauds and "romantic scams."
4️⃣ 4th place — Ukraine
Before the war, Ukraine was an active scam hub, especially for call centers and fake brokers. After 2022, some schemes moved to other countries, but Ukrainian IT professionals still actively participate in developing platforms, websites, chats, and tech support for fake projects. Many operations go through Europe, but the roots are here.
ü•â 3rd place ‚Äî China
Chinese scammers often hide behind complex schemes, including fake investment apps, AI and NFT pyramids, and international Telegram groups. While strict control exists inside the country, they conduct large-scale operations abroad, especially through Southeast Asia.
ü•à 2nd place ‚Äî Nigeria
The classic case. Scams from Nigeria began with email newsletters about "prince's inheritance," but have since evolved. Today, they include entire schools of fraud: from crypto scams and DeFi schemes to hacks and fake investment projects. Nigerian scammers are especially active on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
ü•á 1st place ‚Äî Thailand
The undisputed leader in recent years. Why?
Here are thousands of call centers and bot farms operating undercover.
Slave labor is used (like in Cambodia) for scams via messengers.
Operations are often disguised as romantic scams, crypto exchanges, brokers, and DeFi.
The government is slow to respond, and the turnover of fraudulent money is in the billions of dollars.
In essence, Southeast Asia, and especially Thailand, is the epicenter of the modern global crypto scam infrastructure.
ü߆ Why it‚Äôs important to know?
Understanding the geography of scams helps to:
- Recognize schemes by their patterns.
- Identify suspicious activities early.
- Understand who you're really dealing with.
- Not trust the myth of a "British broker" if the person calling has an accent from Southeast Asia.
üìå Important takeaway
Scams have no borders, but they do have logistics. If you’re contacted by a "financial organization," and the number or behavior seems suspicious, it’s worth checking where they are based. Often, behind big names and logos, there are offices in countries where fraud is a profitable business.
The #StopFake project tracks real schemes, international routes of fraudsters, and helps you quickly recognize fraud before you transfer anything.
#StopFake — Act while others promise.
