A probing investigation of Southeast Asia’s online scam industry – told through the voices of survivors

Running the gamut from the infamous ‘pig butchering’ romance con to sophisticated online extortion and investment fraud, Southeast Asia has emerged as the global hub for cybercrime. Based on years of field research, Scam takes an in-depth look at the history and inner dynamics of the region’s online scam industry. Revealed are the appalling working conditions — akin to modern slavery — in the hundreds of prisonlike compounds that have mushroomed throughout multiple countries. The result is a shocking exposé of victims forced to be perpetrators, a tragic modern tale.

"SCAM is a comprehensive and carefully researched account that will become an essential reference for those interested in the scamming industry in Southeast Asia and beyond. By setting out the industry’s history, organization, and human impact with such clarity, it provides both a definitive study of one of Southeast Asia’s most entrenched illicit economies and a foundation for thinking about how this trade is evolving as a global phenomenon." Neil Loughlin, The Diplomat

"In Scam: Inside Southeast Asia’s Cybercrime Compounds, Ivan Franceschini, Ling Li, and Mark Bo delve into the structure of this powerful shadow industry. Seeking to move beyond sensationalist headlines and stereotypes, they conducted interviews with hundreds of victims of these scam compounds. Their research paints a grim picture of a growing aspect of contemporary capitalism." Chris Dite, Jacobin